Coriolanus | Honor and Heroism

In the first excerpt (originally published in 1962), Eugene M. Waith views the figure of Coriolanus as a hero in the tradition of Hercules. In the second excerpt, Matthew N. Proser examines Coriolanus's character and his relationship to the theme of honor, which the critic calls the "central paradox of the play."

Many critics have examined the destructive potential of Coriolanus's uncompromising belief in personal honor. Charles Mitchell has equated Coriolanus's obsession with honor with his quest for political power. As Coriolanus is a man...

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