Coriolanus

Throughout Act I of Coriolanus, Shakespeare aims to characterize Caius Martius. Not only does he do this through the words and actions of Martius himself, but also his friends, family, and enemies. Scene I characterizes Caius as a mean and egotistical brute, that the commonalty hate. They showcase this by stating that "Caius Martius is chief enemy to the people," in the first few lines of the play. Then when he himself enters, this statement is justified when he calls the citizens "dissentious rogues," and to "hang 'em!" which helps the audience understand why he is considered an enemy. This hatred is then furthered by Aufidius, his biggest rival and enemy saying in a letter he received that "Martius your old enemy, Who is of Rome worse hated than of you." This really solidifies the citizens opinions, stating that the man fighting against their country at war is less hated than their own general. This also establishes the conflict between Aufidius and Martius. Scene III brings a new characteristic into play as Volumnia, his mother talks of his tremendous fighting abilities stating that Martius will "beat Aufidius 'head below his knee And tread upon his neck." However, we also begin to feel some sympathy for Martius as Volumnia says "To a cruel war I sent him," when he was young and "from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak." Here we begin to understand why he might act the way he does. Scene IV brings the war, and further justifies Martius' fighting capabilities, the climax being when he defeats the entire city on his own. For his bravery, he receives a new name of Coriolanus, and is offered a tenth of the loot. He then nobly declines, creating another characteristic and an almost different character to the one we were introduced to at the beginning of the play. When around citizens he is mean, and blunt in his description of them while also egotistical, but around his fellow soldiers he is noble, patriotic, and his ego is subtler. Shakespeare might be doing this to set the scene for the coming conflict between Coriolanus and his colleagues, and the tribunes and citizens.