“Are you all resolved to give your voices ? ” : la voix populaire dans The Tragedy of Coriolanus
Résumé
This paper focuses on the popular voice as organ, sound, noise, discourse and counter-discourse in the Roman play. It first concentrates on how rioters’ cries and recriminations are symptomatic of misgovernment and social injustice, and how as such they authentically express suffering and revolt in terms of a rhetoric which while aggresive is ambivalent in its effects. Second, it considers the limitation of the plebeians’ speech as it proves unstable, versatile and malleable, devoid of individuality, political consensus and maturity. Finally, it shows how their voice is depersonalized and corrupted into ventriloquism, venting others’ views either the patricians’ (tradition) or the tribunes’ (reaction).