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Coriolanus and the Theme of Power

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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