Amoolya's Blog

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus is a political play that shows the early ages of transforming into a democracy after its monarchy style of ruling. Coriolanus in this play, symbolizes the old fashioned way of power, like the survival of the fittest. He believes that a person needs to strive and fight for himself, in order to go up the hierarchy. He is unable to adapt to the new democratic perspective, which, the Plebians represent. Rome now being a citizen driven country, enables the people to choose their government, which Coriolanus dislikes, since he thinks that the Plebians are too foolish and selfish to think of their State’s benefit and that they aren’t capable to recognize worthy people, nor their “defenders”. Aufidius, Rome’s enemy, on the other hand, adjusts to the situation and is an opportunist: taking advantage of every moment. This is seen when Coriolanus goes to him, accepting defeat, and Aufidius instead of killing him (like he previously said he would), he instead took him a...

Caius Martius is thoroughly characterized throughout Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. In terms of Act 1, Martius begins out in Scene 1 to be depicted as a cruel and vicious character by the Plebians, thus projecting a negative first impression on Martius by the audience. Later on, when he goes to fight for the Romans, he is first seen as a strong leader and helps encourage his soldiers to fight for their state whereas later when he enters Corioles city alone, he is seen weak and foolish by the other soldiers. They believed that he was sure to be slain while he remained in Coriole’s territories but he proved them all wrong and came out as a brave warrior. Though he doesn’t have the rhetorical tactics to speak his way and motivate his subjects through words, he encourages them through his brave actions and fighting skills. Further on, after he returns after conquering Corioles, he expresses his disdain towards the cowardly soldiers that sent him alone to battle. Though, his pride filled self ...