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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 10.2277  Thursday, 23 December 1999.

From:           Paul Swanson <swanson@msdmv.k12.in.us>
Date:           Wednesday, 22 Dec 1999 10:22:27 -0500
Subject: 10.2273 Re: Parents and Children in *Macbeth*
Comment:        Re: SHK 10.2273 Re: Parents and Children in *Macbeth*

>Sean Lawrence asks some interesting questions about paternal patterns in
>Shakespeare's later plays. Has anyone considered the effect of the death
>of Shakespeare's mother on the romances? The effect of his father's and
>son's deaths are often remarked on concerning Hamlet.
>
>Richard Regan

Though it is purely speculative-and probably dangerously so-Richard's
Regan's response does bring to mind the dysfunctional mother-son
relationship of Volumnia and Coriolanus. In questioning any possible
influence of WS's mother upon his work, it is interesting to note that
the Riverside Shakespeare dates the composition date of Coriolanus as
1607-1608, which is the same year (1608) that Mary Arden, Shakespeare's
mother, died.

I've wondered before if we are to read any overtones to WS's own mother
into the play Coriolanus.

Paul Swanson

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