• Overview
  In his critical introduction to Coriolanus, Frank Kermode surveys the principal areas of interest in the play. He examines Shakespeare's departure from the primary historical source of the drama, the writings of Plutarch.
• Politics and Society
  In this essay, H.M. Richmond studies political themes in Coriolanus, specifically, the relationship of the play's protagonist to the Roman state.
• 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."
• Mother-Son Relationship
  In the first essay, Rufus Putney takes a psychoanalytic view of Coriolanus, emphasizing the mental drama of Coriolanus's relationship with his mother. In the second essay, Emmett Wilson, Jr. offers a psychoanalytic approach to Coriolanus, evaluating language and imagery that suggests Freudian conflicts within the play.
• Coriolanus
  In the essay that follows, Michael Goldman analyzes the character of Coriolanus and, similarly, the nature of Shakespeare's method of characterization in the play.
• Volumnia
  In this essay, Christina Luckyj remarks on the complexity of Volumnia's character, veiling her as a "dynamic, powerful" figure.
• Virgilia
  In this excerpt, John Middleton Murry considers the frequently overlooked figure of Virgilia, observing that despite the fact that she speaks scarcely more than one hundred words in Coriolanus she figures prominently in representing the play's theme.
• Aufidius
  In the following excerpted preface to Coriolanus, Harley Granville-Barker explores the character of Aufidius. Describing this "secondary hero," Granville-Barker acknowledges that Aufidius is for the most part effective as a counterpoint to Coriolanus.

Related Topics

1. Coriolanus: Introduction
2. Reading Shakespeare
3. Summary
   1. Act I Summary
   2. Act II Summary
   3. Act III Summary
   4. Act IV Summary
   5. Act V Summary
4. Themes
5. Character Analysis
   1. Aufidius (Character Analysis)
   2. Cominius (Character Analysis)
   3. Coriolanus (Character Analysis)
   4. Menenius (Character Analysis)
   5. Messengers (Character Analysis)
   6. Roman Citizens (Character Analysis)
   7. Roman Senators (Character Analysis)
   8. Tribunes (Character Analysis)
   9. Volumnia (Character Analysis)
   10. Other Characters (Descriptions)
6. Principal Topics
7. Essays
8. Criticism
   1. Overview
   2. Politics and Society
   3. Honor and Heroism
   4. Mother-Son Relationship
   5. Coriolanus
   6. Volumnia
   7. Virgilia
   8. Aufidius
9. Selected Quotes
10. Modern Connections
11. Pictures
    1. Coriolanus
    2. Battle scene in University of Washington theatre production (1998)
    3. Coriolanus
    4. Scene in University of Washington theatre production (1998)
    5. Coriolanus, Virgilia, Volumnia, Valeria, and others, by William Hamilton
12. FAQs
    1. Why isn't Coriolanus considered to be one of Shakespeare's "great tragedies"?
    2. Why are the plebians so hostile toward Coriolanus?
    3. What hold does Volumnia have upon her son, Coriolanus?
13. Bibliography and Further Reading
14. Copyright

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