Shakespeare's Coriolanus is a good play for junior high or high school students. It is not that long, and reasonably fast moving. Coriolanus can hold the attention of the normal PSP, cell-phone dependent teenager.
I never thought about this until I watched the BBC production of Coriolanus, but do you suppose Volumnia is trying to compete with her son in being the most noble Roman of them all? Coriolanus is the hero in the beginning of the play, coming home to accolades and the admiration of all. And then look toward the end of the play, after Volumnia's speech that convinces Coriolanus not to sack Rome. Note how she becomes the Roman heroine. Do you suppose Shakepeare is saying something about mothers who are too heavy handed with the encouragement towards glory of their sons?
