Letter: Shakespeare understood Tory values

AS A MEMBER of the cast of the recent production of Coriolanus at the RSC I read with particular interest David Lister's article, 'Was Shakespeare a Tory?'

Lord Lawson is quoted as saying 'Shakespeare was a Tory without any doubt', adding that Coriolanus espousing 'the Roman virtues, the Tory virtues' was 'written from Tory point of view'. Lord Lawson is seeing the play only from the point of view of the character of Coriolanus; but that is only half of the equation. At the political centre of the play, there is a conflict between Coriolanus, who embodies aristocracy and authority, and the Tribunes (to pursue the 'Tory' analogy 'the union bosses'), who represent the rights of the people and popular power. They too have a point of view, and it certainly is not Tory. In fact Shakespeare defends and attacks both sides in the struggle.

John Drake

Ealing, London