Coriolanus (Vol. 86) | Joyce Van Dyke (essay date 1977)
Joyce Van Dyke (essay date 1977)
SOURCE: Van Dyke, Joyce. “Making a Scene: Language and Gesture in Coriolanus.” Shakespeare Survey 30 (1977): 135-46.
[In the following essay, Van Dyke explores Shakespeare's characterization of Coriolanus through his non-verbal self-expression and use of language.]
It has often been noticed that North's Plutarch describes Coriolanus as ‘eloquent’1 whereas Shakespeare has often represented him as inarticulate or at a loss for words, and has Menenius remark several times that Coriolanus is not a good speaker. Coriolanus's critics tend to agree with Menenius's judgement: ‘Lacking the verbal resources and the confidence in language required for effective argument, he remains taciturn whenever possible … [He is] insensitive to the tone or connotative qualities of words … there is very little of the lyric in his speech … Nor does he engage in word-play’.2 All of...
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