Monologue

Menenius Monologue from Coriolanus

From Coriolanus by William Shakespeare

male · sarcastic · 1:17 min

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Our very priests must become mockers if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards, and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher’s cushion or to be entombed in an ass’s packsaddle. Yet you must be saying Martius is proud, who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion, though peradventure some of the best of ’em were hereditary hangmen. Good e’en to your Worships. More of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians. I will be bold to take my leave of you. (He begins to exit. Brutus and Sicinius stand aside.) Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Valeria How now, my as fair as noble ladies—and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler—whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

About this piece

Menenius confronts a group of plebeians with disdain, mocking their worth and expressing his contempt for their grievances while also acknowledging the nobility of his companions.

40s · disgust · power · identity · contempt · social class

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