Throughout the tragedy of Coriolanus, Shakespeare makes several underlying arguments about politics, freedom, and social class. While each of these play a role in Roman culture and influenced Coriolanus, I will argue that it was ultimately Coriolanus’s mother, Volumnia, that inspired Coriolanus’s arrogance and his lack of patriotism, which ultimately led him to his death. I will prove this by first revealing how Volumnia presents herself as prideful and uncommitted and then I will reveal how Coriolanus exhibits these same traits and ultimately why this led to his death.
Volumnia violates social norms by thinking too highly of herself and caring more about herself than her child. In 1600’s when the play was initially performed, women had little to no authority over their families and little place in politics. However, she has assumed a man-like role and desires to receive honor that is typically reserved for men. In initiating her conversation with Virgilia, Coriolanus’s wife, she explains that, “I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein/ he won honour than in the embracements of his bed/ where he would show most love” (I:III 2-5). In this she is arguing that where she is shown the most love, is simply not …show more content…
Encouraging him to come back relayed the message that they will still accept him; providing him with the acceptance he eagerly desired. The fed his ego, made him feel more important to Rome than he actually was, and persuaded him to betray Aufidius and his army. Volumnia’s pride in her own strength and identity was clearly passed down to Coriolanus and was why he found it acceptable to betray multiple groups of people. Yet as the battle came to end, Coriolanus received the noble, honorary death he desperately yearned for, even though it was at the expense of his own
Volumnia violates social norms by thinking too highly of herself and caring more about herself than her child. In 1600’s when the play was initially performed, women had little to no authority over their families and little place in politics. However, she has assumed a man-like role and desires to receive honor that is typically reserved for men. In initiating her conversation with Virgilia, Coriolanus’s wife, she explains that, “I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein/ he won honour than in the embracements of his bed/ where he would show most love” (I:III 2-5). In this she is arguing that where she is shown the most love, is simply not …show more content…
Encouraging him to come back relayed the message that they will still accept him; providing him with the acceptance he eagerly desired. The fed his ego, made him feel more important to Rome than he actually was, and persuaded him to betray Aufidius and his army. Volumnia’s pride in her own strength and identity was clearly passed down to Coriolanus and was why he found it acceptable to betray multiple groups of people. Yet as the battle came to end, Coriolanus received the noble, honorary death he desperately yearned for, even though it was at the expense of his own