Coriolanus Outline
- · Extract from Coriolanus
- · Specifically, this occurs after Coriolanus has been exiled from Rome and as a result has approached his former enemy Aufidius with plans of collusion in an attempt to take revenge
- · This leads to their temporary team0up only to end in Coriolanus’ mercy and death at the hands of Aufidius
- · In the passage, Aufidius is discussing with his lieutenant Coriolanus’ successes and his own reverence for the main character as he considers the collusion
- · The extract is organized so that Aufidius clearly overpowers his lieutenant in his abundance of dialogue, only interrupted by a single question
- · In this extract, Shakespeare firmly emphasizes Aufidius’ reverence for Coriolanus despite his consistent antagonism towards him (especially through the use of animal imagery) and effectively foreshadows Coriolanus’ ultimate demise.
- · Thematic approach
- · Large part of the passage seemed to be an appraisal of Coriolanus with minor hints towards the planned murder of him
- · Multiple references to dragon (Coriolanus), which is fierce and mystical beast. Doesn’t fit into the body motif societal system
- · Animal imagery (osprey simile)
- · Mutual respect
- · Fire drives out one fire (only someone as powerful as Coriolanus could kill him) – dragon also parallels
- · Tomb (foreshadows public death)
- · Refuses to call him by his awarded name (always Caius or him)
- Final line shows his plan to kill him and make him his (stand on his body sign of overpowering)
- · Through use of animal imagery among other literary aspects of the extract, Shakespeare is able to show not only Aufidius’ reverence for Coriolanus but also his continued antagonism towards him and plans of murder. Shown significantly through the metaphors of dragons/fire.
- · I found this extract to be powerful in that it allows the audience to see an alternative perspective of the main character through its omniscient third person narrator and through the literary depth which Shakespeare employs in the use of literary devices and character complexities in these apparent soliloquys
