Monologue

First Citizen Monologue from Coriolanus

From Coriolanus by William Shakespeare

male · defiant · 1:14 min

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We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us. If they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely. But they think we are too dear. The leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes ere we become rakes; for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. (SECOND CITIZEN: Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?) Against him first. He’s a very dog to the commonalty. (SECOND CITIZEN: Consider you what services he has done for his country?) Very well, and could be content to give him good report for’t, but that he pays himself with being proud.

About this piece

The First Citizen expresses frustration and anger over the disparity between the patricians and the common citizens, advocating for a revolt due to their suffering and hunger.

20s · anger · power · revenge · suffering · class struggle

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