Analysis Of Coriolanus Personality In Othello By William Shakespeare

It will be discussed whether Coriolanus’ difficult personality is due to his upbringing, and/or due to his own nature, men of his manner are not uncommon in the socio-political landscape, even in today’s day and age, and we may well be moved to wonder what formative childhood experiences shaped the personality of these difficult, although at times necessary leaders. Above all, Shakespeare's words seem to provide us with a simple, direct answer. But I intend to argue that the text also contains some signs that the history she provides is incomplete.

The reality is that children simply are not the same but vary greatly in the psychological equipment they bring to the world. In the reading I propose, Coriolanus's own lawful nature made his childhood far more challenging and difficult for Volumnia than her callous declarations would have us believe.

When we first meet Volumnia she openly invites us to join her in her belief that she bears complete responsibility for her son's personality.

For example, when Virgilia, Coriolanus's wife, worries that her husband has been wounded in battle, Volumnia says: “Away, you fool! It more becomes a man than gilt his trophy”(1.3.39-43). Instead of trying to comfort Virgilia, Volumnia shows her joy at the prospect of her son having been gloriously wounded in battle. She suggests that, along with her milk, she infused an equal measure of thirst for blood—for others' and his own blood. The unknown “breasts of Hecuba” speech, along with others like it, is usually read as a reflection of Volumnia’s cruel and uncontrolled attitude toward Coriolanus when he was a little child. He then incorporated into his personality and this formed the basis of his love of violence. And she seems to take enormous pride in what she did with

him!

Coriolanus' mother, shows how a strong-willed woman can have an impact in a male-dominated society: Volumnia lives through her son, raising him to be a warrior, delighting in his victories, and, ultimately, hoping to see him reach the peak of political power, the consulship. Through it all, he remains dependent upon her, so much so that she is able, at the end of the play, to succeed where all his male friends have failed--in convincing him to forgive the Romans and spare Rome from destruction. For this feat, she is hailed as her city's saviour, while he, the great warrior, sneaking off to die in Antium--an ironic reversal and a triumph for maternal and female strength.