Shakespeare develops the theme
of power in the play, mainly with the characters of Coriolanus, Volumnia,
Aufidius, Menenius, and the Tribunes as representative of different forms of
power. The titular character, Coriolanus, is a man from an older form of power,
the absolute kind, where rulers did not have to answer to the commoners. He
approaches politics the same way he approaches military matters: speaks his
mind/heart (i.e. insulting the commoners, but it’s what he genuinely thinks of
them), being true to himself, and insulting those he regards as enemies or
against Rome (in battle this is the Volsces, but he believes that giving the plebeians
a voice is a bad idea). In military, he is successful, because military power
is absolute, obey or die type of deal, at least in that time; however, politics requires a surgical
approach, and careful consideration of what to say, which the other characters
mentioned can do better. Menenius acts as a foil to Coriolanus’ skills, because
while he is not a military man, he is someone who can influence and even change
people’s choice of action by saying some words, for example, with his story of
the stomach and body, he is able to cast doubt in the plebeians, and slows them
down with them pondering the metaphor. He can perhaps be described as being
kind of a populist (it may not pay to be liked by everyone, but you won’t get
banished or killed for being well liked). Volumnia and Aufidius are both quite Machiavellian
people, manipulating Coriolanus, a son and an ally (later on), respectively.
They both exploit Coriolanus for their own personal gain. In Shakespeare’s
time, politics was a dangerous affair, in fact the previous ruler, Queen
Elizabeth I had her own cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, killed (she was involved
in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth), which meant that sometimes
politicians/rulers had to ‘get their hands dirty’. Finally, the Tribunes are an
extension of the common people (plebeians), a representative of them. It could be said that they show the rising power of the
commoner in society; in Shakespeare’s time people were slowly gaining more
power, even going against the king occasionally, most notably with the
Gunpowder plot in 1605, with Guy Fawkes along with others attempted to blow up Westminster
Palace.
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