American Quote by Robert Lepage
“The extraordinary context of 'Coriolanus' is that it's the first republic - it's the first attempt to create a society not ruled by a monarch. It changes the whole system, and you see how the establishment reacts to that, how they have disdain but play along - and you recognize this is the whole American republican system.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Coriolanus by William Shakespeare, adapted 2005
The play shows the first republic’s attempt to replace monarchy, exposing how elites resist change while pretending to cooperate.
In simple terms: Early republics face elite resistance.
Study how power structures react to reform.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- government reform
- activism
- education
- media commentary
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this ancient example relate to today?
- What can we learn about managing elite pushback?
Historical analogies may oversimplify modern politics.