When first approaching a play text, it is important to establish the identity of the main characters and their relationships with one another in the course of the play.
The play and the film Coriolanus are named after the principal character in the drama. However, as in some other Shakespeare plays, the title character is known by more than one name: at the start of the play, he is called Caius Marcius. He is given the title Coriolanus as a result of his bravery and victory over the city of Corioles.
The activity that launches below enables you to explore your ideas about character based on images from the film. Read through these questions and have them in mind as you complete the task:
- What differences and similarities do you see between the characters? Do different members of your group respond to these images in different ways?
- How far does the representation of the characters in the film match your expectations based on your knowledge of the play and the film so far? Explain your answer.
