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Asimov’s Guide To Shakespear. Volume 1Plutarch says of the tale, "These persuasions pacified the people conditionally." Note the word "conditionally." Words alone were not enough. The people demanded a reform of the government and got it. … let me use my sword.. . Before Shakespeare gets to these reforms, however, he wants to bring on Marcius and display him as he is. Marcius comes whirling in, acknowledges Menenius' greetings in the briefest possible way, and grates out harshly to the citizens: What's the matter, you dissentious rogues That, nibbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourself scabs? —Act I, scene i, lines 165-67 Menenius is attended because he speaks gently. Does Marcius think he can get anywhere by scolding? It doesn't matter whether he does or not, for there is no other way he can act, and the First Citizen indicates that by his dryly ironic rejoinder: We have ever your good word. —Act I, scene i, line 167b Marcius continues to rail, denouncing them as utterly untrustworthy. He says: Trust ye? With every minute you do change a mind, And call him noble that was now your hate, Him vile that was your garland. —Act I, scene i, lines 182-85 This is, of course, a standard complaint against the common people; that they are fickle and unreasoning ...» | Код для вставки книги в блог HTML
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