Physical Characteristics of Coriolanus

2. Psychological Characteristics of Coriolanus

In this part, the writer presents the analysis of psychological characteristics of the main character, notably Coriolanus. In the analysis of psychological characteristics the scope of main character’s attitudes are presented part by part. While in each part of the analysis of main character’s attitudes, the writer includes the analysis of conflicts faced by main character as the consequences of his attitudes.

a. Arrogant

Coriolanus is described as a person who has arrogant attitude. Shakespeare intently created Coriolanus with arrogance as his dominant attitude. Coriolanus’ arrogance shows a tendency of his bad side of personality. In the play, Marcius Coriolanus who is described as a soldier and a Roman patrician has abhorrence to the people of Rome and the people’s tribunes. His abhorrence tends to be a personal abhorrence. Marcius Coriolanus shows his arrogant attitude when he responds the rebel of the people who demand lower price of corn. Notably people of Rome are starving because of famine which plagues the entire Roman city. Here, Marcius Coriolanus plays a role as the representative of Roman patrician and as the greatest warrior whom many people respect. On one hand, he is expected to solve the problem or control the riot. On the other hand, because of his personal abhorrence to the people, Marcius Coriolanus shows his arrogant attitudes by mocking the people. MARCIUS . Thanks. What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues, that, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, make yourselves scabs? 2. CITIZEN. We have ever your good word. MARCIUS. He that will give good words to thee will flatter beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, that like nor peace nor war? Shakespeare, 1942:1291 Some words such rogues , scabs , curs which Marcius Coriolanus uses to respond the people citizen are practically impolite for a patrician to use. Marcius Coriolanus does not respect his own people even he mocks them. This is caused by his arrogant attitude that he himself feels that he is worthier than others. Besides mocking another expression which shows that Marcius Coriolanus is really arrogant character is when he underestimates and discriminates the people. MARCIUS . They are dissolv’d, hang ‘em They said they were an-hungry; sigh’d forth proverbs, that hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, that meat was made for mouths, that the gods sent not corn for the rich men only. Shakespeare, 1942:1291 Standing as a representative of the patricians, Marcius Coriolanus defends only rich people to get their rights. While poor people whom he must primarily concern are ignored. Marcius’ Coriolanus’ arrogance points to his egoism. Sicinius and Brutus, the tribune of people, criticize Marcius’ Coriolanus’ attitudes. Sicinius and Brutus imply that the war between Rome and Volsce is only to elevate Marcius ’ Coriolanus’ name as his ability to defeat enemy and so he is welcomed as the warrior of Rome. Marcius’ Coriolanus’ certainly becomes the most important person who Romans depend on Shakespeare, 1942:1302. This is also viewed as the reason why Marcius Coriolanus becomes more arrogant and so egocentric. Tribunes of people are afraid if this happens. Moreover, the patricians promote Coriolanus to be a consul. The patricians promote him to be a consul because they think that he deserves to get it. However, Coriolanus has to beg the voice of people. Coriolanus can be a consul if the people vote for him. Now Coriolanus faces his defiance, the people whom he hates. Before Coriolanus goes to ask people’s voices, his mother Volumnia and his friend Menenius Agrippa advice him to be humble when he meets the people. Instead of being humble, Coriolanus keeps stubborn and arrogant. CORIOLANUS. What must I say? “I pray, sir,” – Plague upon’t I cannot bring my tongue to such a pace, – “look, sir, my wounds I got them in my country’s service, when some certain of your breathren roar’d and ran from the noise of our own drums.” MENENIUS. O me, the gods You must not speak of that. You must desire them to think upon you. CORIOLANUS. Think upon me Hang ‘em I would they would forget me, like the virtues which our devines lose by ‘em. MENENIUS. You’ll mar all. I’ll leave you. Pray you, speak to ‘em, I pray you, in wholesome manner. Re-enter three of the CITIZENS. CORIOLANUS. Bid them wash their faces and keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a brace. – You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. 3.CITIZEN. We do, sir; tell us what ha th brought you to’t. CORIOLANUS. Mine own desert. 2.CITIZEN. Your own desert CORIOLANUS. Ay, [not] mine own desire. 3.CITIZEN. How not your own desire? CORIOLANUS. No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging. Shakespeare, 1942:1305 Coriolanus realizes that he finds it difficult to deal with the people. It seems to be a far-fetched manner for Coriolanus to be humble as advised by Menenius. Coriolanus really hates the people and he does not want to be a hypocrite for only getting people’s voice. Coriolanus is more likely to be egocentric than to obey the people. Through a deep analysis of the main character, notably Coriolanus’ attitude, the writer gains some points concerning the consequence of Coriolanus’ arrogant attitude. The consequence can be the conflicts that are faced by Coriolanus. Here in the first part the writer presents some conflicts which are faced by Coriolanus because of his arrogant attitude. Coriolanus’ arrogance has the bad impact for his relation with others. Coriolanus confronts with the citizens or the people and the tribunes of people especially Brutus and Sicinius. Actually the conflict among Coriolanus, the citizens and the tribune of the people is the conflict between the patricians and common people. This kind of conflict can be said as Coriolanus’ interpersonal conflict or external conflict. Coriolanus’ external conflict is the concern in the play. At the beginning, the citizens are rebelling against the patricians because the patricians only grant the grain for themselves while the citizens are starving. The citizens become more brutal when Coriolanus comes and responds to them with ire and arrogance. In the one hand, Coriolanus mocks the citizens and he underestimates them. On the other hand, the citizens rebel against him even they want to kill him. Hardly can the conflict be avoided between these two sides. Enter a company of mutinous CITIZENS, with staves, clubs, and other weapons. 1.CITIZEN. Before we proceed any further, hear me speak. ALL. Speak, speak. 1.CITIZEN. You are all resolv’d rather to die than to famish? ALL. Resolv’d, resolv’d. 1.CITIZEN. First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people. ALL. We know ’t, we know ’t. 1.CITIZEN. Let us kill him, and we’ll have corn at our own price. Is’t a verdict? Shakespeare, 1942:1289