And I am struck with sorrow. Take him up.
Help, three o' th' chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully.
Trail your steel pikes. Through in this city he
Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory."
(V.6.145-152)
Aufidius ends the play with remorse over the death of Coriolanus. Once again, I find this situation as being extremely frustrating. Aufidius acts as though he had no choice but to kill Coriolanus, and when the deed is done, he begins to feel sorrowful. Many of these tragic endings could be avoided if only people would think before they act. I am curious as to why dramas such as this end with the "villain" feeling sorry for what happened. Moreover, Shakespeare could have concluded the play with the death of Coriolanus, and exclude the input by Aufidius. But I suppose that this situation is similar to Romeo and Juliet: the feuding families, and in this case the feuding towns, may finally have a chance at peace with one another.
No comments:
Post a Comment