Retribution, pandemonium, ambiguous honor, and death all are components in the historically based tragedies of William Shakespeare, whether describing the descent into madness of a once- noble king, an ardent and zealous commander, or a valiant warrior fated to fall from grace. Coriolanus, Shakespeare's narrative of the self-implosion of a Roman warrior and his society, proves to be no exception. This account follows the downfall resulting from the characters’ most excessive attribute- honor, but Coriolanus further develops and adds to this attribute with the conception of gender ideals as shown by the characters of Coriolanus and Volumnia. The relationship between masculine and feminine honor in Roman society leads to a conflict that necessitates
