Is Coriolanus a good leader?
A representative of the patrician class of Rome, Coriolanus’ prowess in battle would seem to make him an ideal hero for the masses; however, he utterly lacks the common touch, and his fear of popular rule allows him to be construed as an enemy of the people.
Is Coriolanus Noble?
Caius Martius A Roman general, he is given the name “Coriolanus” after he leads the Roman armies to victory against the Volscian city of Corioles. Brave, fearsome in battle, and extremely honorable, he is also overly proud, immature, inflexible, and stubbornly aristocratic.
How is Coriolanus a tragic hero?
Coriolanus is the most paradoxical of Shakespearean tragic heroes. Unsurpassed in valor and indispensable to Rome’s military supremacy, he returns home after each conquest a garlanded hero praised by patrician and plebeian alike.
Why was Coriolanus hated?
First, he’s a lower-class hating snob who thinks the plebeians don’t deserve any political power (or even any food, apparently). He’s the poster boy for the kind of aristocratic arrogance that dominates the play.
Why is Volumnia important to Coriolanus?
The most significant figure in Coriolanus’s life, however, is his domineering mother, Volumnia. As a woman, she lacks the ability to achieve power on her own in the male-dominated Roman society; she also lacks a husband through whom she might indirectly enjoy public clout.
How does Coriolanus compare the Volscians to the Roman soldiers?
This metaphor attributes to the Volscians the same boldness and confidence that Coriolanus has always had; though Roman soldiers were never able to follow his example, it appears that he has finally found an army that can, meaning that they can surely outfight the Romans.
How does Volumnia feel about her son?
She cares about her son, but mostly seems to care about his honor and his success, almost like an early modern stage mother. She sent him into battle when he was only sixteen years old, and when he is set to return from Corioles, Volumnia hopes that he has wounds to show the people in order to advance his political campaign.
How is Coriolanus similar to Tullus Aufidius?
Meanwhile, his Volscian counterpart, the great general Tullus Aufidius, is similar to Coriolanus in temperament but has a resentful streak that leads him to betray Coriolanus when he feels himself to be eclipsed in glory. The most significant figure in Coriolanus’s life, however, is his domineering mother, Volumnia.