Shakespeare's "Coriolanus"

Paper Summary:

This paper explores Coriolanus' disdain for the Roman plebeians and begins by explaining how this disdain becomes Coriolanus' tragic flaw. The language he uses to refer to the plebeians is discussed, as are the ways he uses beast metaphors to express his dislike of them. His use of distasteful physical imagery is studied and the importance of names to Coriolanus is looked at. The paper concludes with a synopsis of its main points.

From the Paper:

"As is evident, Coriolanus' scorn for the plebeians is the catalyst that leads to his death. It is not so much Coriolanus' attitude that leads to his downfall, but his inability to refrain from expressing his dislike for the Roman commoners (MacKean, 2000). When the senate discusses the discord occurring due to the plebeians insistence on setting the price of grain themselves, Coriolanus (who believes these domestic issues are petty and beneath him) is irritated by the distraction created by the plebeians. "Would the nobility lay aside their truth [compassion], and let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry with thousands of these quartered slaves, as high as I could pick my lance." (van Oort, 1998)."

More papers on Shakespeare's "Coriolanus":

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• Analytical Essay # 112226 : "A Fitting End for Coriolanus"

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