The story of Coriolanus is a very unique Tragedy, for instance unlike other Shakespeare tragidies where the plays are littered with deaths; in Coriolanus, Coriolanus is the only character to die. This is not the only reason, I believe, that separates Coriolanus from all of Shakespeare’s other tragidies: Coriolanus is the most unique tragic hero, when compared to all the other tragic heroes Shakespeare has written about.
Unlike most of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes there is no inner complexity to Coriolanus; he is seen completely from the outside, by the reader, as written by Sailendra’s article What Happens in Coriolanus, “Coriolanus, then, is a character not inwardly evolved, as the greater tragic characters are, but seen from without. ” (pg 331). This is exemplified through the fact that Coriolanus has no soliloquies in the play. This is extremely odd considering he is the main protagonist in the play and is considered a Tragic Hero.
Coriolanus is truly unique in the fact that everything we learn about him is a result of another character; the most obvious example being his pride and rage, brought on by Brutus and Sicinius, and their plots against him. Similar to other Tragic Heroes Coriolanus is easily manipulated and persuaded by other characters in the play. Just like Macbeth was persuaded by Lady Macbeth to murder the King and take over as King of Scotland, Coriolanus was persuaded by Volumnia to run for Council.
A significant difference between Coriolanus and Macbeth being that Macbeth ended up truly wanting to become King, and the ambitions Lady Macbeth had for him soon became his own; unlike in Coriolanus, where through-out the play it was never really evident that Coriolanus wanted any political power. There is thus many reasons to point out why Coriolanus is the most unique of Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes. In the very first scene of Act 1, the reader a hint of what Coriolanus’ true political feelings are.
He is first introduced to the reader by the citizens because they are planning an uprising against him; Coriolanus has cut off grain to the common people. It is also in this scene that we are introduced to Menenius, who like Coriolanus has the same thoughts opinions of the common people, but is more politically savvy. Menenius talks to the people and explains to them how they are the body of Rome and the Senate is the belly and only if we work together will Rome survive. This, I think, triggers an emotion in Coriolanus, who does not think very highly of the common people, basically has an angry outburst and calls them savage beasts.
This can be shown in lines 210-210: “They are dissolved: hang ’em! They said they were an-hungry; sigh’d forth proverbs, That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, That meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not Corn for the rich men only: with these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer’d, And a petition granted them, a strange one— To break the heart of generosity, And make bold power look pale—they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o’ the moon, Shouting their emulation. ” (Coriolanus 1. 1).
It is here that the reader first gets an inclination of what Coriolanus’ tragic flaw might be, his pride his thoughts of self worth, and his anger ultimately bring forth his down fall. This outburst in Act 1, like most of his outburst toward the people in the rest of his play, is triggered by another character’s discourse. It is hear that we first learn that everything the reader might uncover about Coriolanus is brought on by another character; this theme will follow us through the rest of the play. Coriolanus’ pride is evident in the first scene and is portrayed heavily in the rest of the play.
In scene 4 and 5 we see Coriolanus as a soldier and leader of his army. It is in war that we see his strength and where he truly belongs. In this atmosphere, he easily takes control and feels comfortable; the reader can tell this by Coriolanus’ speech. In the first scene, when Coriolanus was talking to the people, he talked with a tone of disgust in his voice, but now in Scene 4 when he is talking to his soldiers his voice is much more eloquent and the reader can tell he respect the other soldiers he is talking to. They fear us not, but issue forth their city. Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight with hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus: They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows: He that retires I’ll take him for a Volsce, and he shall feel mine edge. ” (Coriolanus 1. 4). It is in this speech, in scene 4, where Coriolanus’ strength truly comes into play. He is asking his soldiers to fight with their hearts because he believes this is the only way to be a good soldier.
Also in this speech he talks about his wrath which comes out in the next scene, here he is also talking to his soldier, which is just evidence that he lets his anger and pride get the best of him no matter the situation. In Scene 5, the reader is given a prime example of how Coriolanus’ uses his anger to try and persuade people into believing in him. Here he is trying to anger his soldiers into continuing to fight; he even goes as far as to curse them out for being cowards and not fighting. He has great disdain for anyone not willing to fight and do what it takes for their country. Irons of a doit, doublets that hangmen would Bury with those that wore them, these base slaves, ere yet the fight be done, pack up: down with them! ” (Coriolanus 1. 5). Here he is basically calling the other slaves for looting their spoils instead of wanting to continuing to fight. Later on in the scene he tells his soldiers that he will continue to fight without them: “I will appear, and fight. ” (Coriolanus 1. 5). Here is an example of his pride and how that even though he has no other soldiers coming to fight with him, it does not matter he will be victorious.
In Katherine Stockholder’s article The Other Coriolanus she writes about Coriolanus’ image of himself and how it is his biggest weakness and greatest trait. “Coriolanus’ limitations and blindnesses cause both his greatness and his fall. ” (pg228). I believe this to be a perfect assumption about Coriolanus because his anger and pride blind him into seeing the importance of the people of Rome and limit him into being a great leader and member of the Senate; this is an obvious example of how he falls.
His character flaws also help him to be great because in battle his anger could easily be taken for passion for his country and wanting to do right by Rome by fighting with all his heart. His pride helps him to become a great soldier in war because it alleviates any hesitation he would have in war, and he goes into any fight with no fear of losing. It is in these few scenes where the reader sees Coriolanus at his best and yet he still has no inner reflection, and the reader only learns about him from other’s words.
It is this reason that I think he easily manipulated in the next Acts. In the first Scene of Act 2 Coriolanus is greeted back in Rome by his mother Volumnia, Menenius, and many others. It is here the reader learns of Menenius’ and Volumnia’s idea for Coriolanus to become a member of the Senate. It is also in this scene that the reader learns that Coriolanus has to ambition to run for Senate and that he is only doing it to please his mother and nobility. There is no room for doubt that Coriolanus stood for the office of consul, not to realize a personal ambition, but out of deference to the wishes of his mother and the nobility and the gentry. ” (Sen, pg 333). His mother is the first to mention to him about running for Senate; “I have lived to see inherited my very wishes and the buildings of my fancy: only there’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not but Our Rome will cast upon thee. ” (Coriolanus 2. 1).
The very next line is from Coriolanus and how he would rather serve the Senate, than be on it, and yet he goes through with it anyway; this shows his total lack of inner perspective. “Coriolanus is a character who does not emerge from his own word,” it is only in battle that he has true control over actions. In every other aspect of his life, especially his political life, his actions are manipulated by others. (Sen, pg 332). It is this reason that his anger is so easily manipulated by Brutus and Sicinius, through-out the rest of the play.
It is in Act 3 that the readers learn how easy it is for one to control Coriolanus’ emotions and use it against him. Brutus and Sicinius do just this; it is very simple for them. Just by telling Coriolanus that the common people have changed their mind and do not support his role for counsel, Coriolanus once again lets his anger get the best of him and lets it known of little he thinks of the tribune and the common people ( “the tribunes bring news that the approval has been revoked, his reactions are violent. (Sen, pg 335). He goes as fur to belittle the tribune by labeling them just a mouth piece for the common people. Menenius even has to calm him down, while he goes on his rant. CORIOLANUS: Are these your herd? Must these have voices, that can yield them now And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices? You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Have you not set them on? MENENIUS AGRIPPA: Be calm, be calm. (Coriolanus Act 3).
In Stockholder’s article, she talks about Coriolanus’ obsession with his image of himself and how this reflects the fact that he has no inner self. “For the man who devotes himself to image making, life tends to grow empty and meaningless; all his inwardness, with the exception of the impulse to play the game, atrophies for lack of expression in action, leaving an inner vacuum. ” (pg 229). In Act 3 the Tribune use this to their advantage because they continue to push Coriolanus’ inadequacies upon himself, which only forces him to get more and more angry and show his true colors.
Coriolanus is essentially a Tragic Hero in the sense that he lets his flaws get the best of him which ultimately brings forth his downfall (death). That is the only real similarity he shares with Shakespeare’s more famous Tragic Heroes, unlike the rest he is completely static; Coriolanus does not show any true evolution in himself. He is essentially a man, a great warrior and military leader, who’s lack of self reflection and inner-complexity leads to him being manipulated, both by the people around him and his emotions.
