Quotes (Coriolanus)

This section explains the key quotes in the Coriolanus by William Shakespeare. Below are the most important quotes from Coriolanus, each with an explanation of its context and significance in the play.

"What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, / That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, / Make yourselves scabs?"

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act I, Scene i)

Context: Coriolanus insults the plebeians during their protest against grain shortages.

Significance: This quote reveals Coriolanus’ disdain for the common people, calling them "scabs" and showcasing his pride and contempt. It sets the tone for his fraught relationship with the plebeians and highlights his inability to navigate political diplomacy.

"The common file—a plague! Tribunes for them!"

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act I, Scene i)

Context: Coriolanus expresses his frustration with the plebeians and their representatives, the tribunes.

Significance: His rejection of the plebeians' political power is evident. His disregard for the lower classes and their tribunes foreshadows the conflict that will lead to his downfall.

"He is a lion that I am proud to hunt."

Speaker: Tullus Aufidius (Act I, Scene i)

Context: Aufidius, Coriolanus’ enemy, expresses admiration for his rival, likening him to a lion.

Significance: This quote highlights the complex relationship between Coriolanus and Aufidius, marked by mutual respect as well as enmity. Aufidius sees Coriolanus as a worthy adversary, and this admiration underpins their dynamic throughout the play.

"He is a very dog to the commonalty."

Speaker: Brutus (Act I, Scene i)

Context: The tribunes, Brutus and Sicinius, discuss Coriolanus’ contempt for the plebeians.

Significance: This reinforces Coriolanus’ deep-seated animosity towards the plebeians and foreshadows the tribunes’ role in turning the people against him. His inability to engage with the lower classes is a key factor in his political downfall.

"Before and in Corioli, let me say / I cannot speak him home."

Speaker: Cominius (Act II, Scene ii)

Context: Cominius speaks of Coriolanus' bravery during the war against the Volscians.

Significance: Coriolanus’ military prowess is highlighted here, emphasising his identity as a warrior. His exceptional skills on the battlefield are contrasted with his ineptitude in political and civil life.

"His nature is too noble for the world."

Speaker: Menenius (Act III, Scene i)

Context: Menenius tries to defend Coriolanus after his outburst against the tribunes and plebeians.

Significance: Menenius suggests that Coriolanus' virtues, particularly his honour and integrity, make him unfit for the political world of Rome. This highlights the tension between Coriolanus' private nobility and the demands of public life.

"O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for’t."

Speaker: Volumnia (Act II, Scene i)

Context: Volumnia celebrates Coriolanus' wounds as proof of his bravery in battle.

Significance: This quote reveals Volumnia’s intense pride in her son’s military achievements. She values his wounds as symbols of honour and strength, illustrating her role in shaping Coriolanus’ identity as a warrior.

"He has not humbled his nature."

Speaker: Brutus (Act III, Scene i)

Context: The tribunes discuss Coriolanus’ refusal to pander to the plebeians for political gain.

Significance: This comment underlines Coriolanus’ pride and refusal to compromise his sense of honour by flattering the common people. His inflexible nature is a key factor in his political isolation and eventual banishment.

"I banish you!"

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act III, Scene iii)

Context: Coriolanus is exiled from Rome by the tribunes and plebeians. In response, he declares that it is he who banishes them.

Significance: This quote reflects Coriolanus’ defiant pride. Instead of accepting his banishment, he turns the situation on its head, rejecting Rome and its people. This act of defiance further alienates him from the political order of Rome.

"There is a world elsewhere."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act III, Scene iii)

Context: After being banished, Coriolanus declares that he will find purpose outside of Rome.

Significance: This quote encapsulates Coriolanus’ sense of self-sufficiency and his belief that he does not need Rome to define his identity. It foreshadows his decision to ally with the Volscians and wage war against his former city.

"I’ll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee / Worse than a promise-breaker."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act I, Scene viii)

Context: Coriolanus challenges Aufidius during the battle between Rome and the Volscians.

Significance: This line encapsulates Coriolanus’ personal and intense rivalry with Aufidius. It demonstrates his warrior code, where personal honour and hatred drive his actions on the battlefield.

"I shall be loved when I am lacked."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act IV, Scene i)

Context: Coriolanus reflects on how the Romans will miss him after his banishment.

Significance: Coriolanus expresses a belief that his absence will make the Romans appreciate him. This reflects his arrogance and his conviction that Rome cannot thrive without him.

"We have been called so of many, not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured."

Speaker: First Citizen (Act I, Scene i)

Context: The plebeians discuss their role in the political conflict.

Significance: This quote represents the plebeians’ awareness of their collective power. The language of diversity and unity reflects their evolving political consciousness, setting up their crucial role in Coriolanus’ downfall.

"Anger’s my meat; I sup upon myself."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act IV, Scene ii)

Context: Coriolanus expresses his fury after being banished from Rome.

Significance: This line illustrates Coriolanus' intense anger and self-destructive nature. His inability to control his rage drives his actions and ultimately contributes to his tragic fate.

"He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, / Or Jove for’s power to thunder."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act III, Scene i)

Context: Coriolanus refuses to humble himself or flatter the people for political power.

Significance: This hyperbolic declaration underscores Coriolanus’ rigid sense of honour. He refuses to lower himself, even for the highest rewards, and his disdain for flattery further isolates him in the political sphere.

"O mother, mother! What have you done?"

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act V, Scene iii)

Context: Coriolanus yields to his mother Volumnia's plea to spare Rome.

Significance: This moment marks Coriolanus’ ultimate internal conflict. Torn between his loyalty to his mother and his desire for revenge, he submits to Volumnia’s will, knowing it will lead to his death. His realisation reflects the tragic cost of familial loyalty.

"If I had feared death, of all the men i’ the world / I would have avoided thee."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act IV, Scene v)

Context: Coriolanus speaks to Aufidius after joining the Volscians.

Significance: This line demonstrates Coriolanus’ fearlessness in the face of death. His warrior ethos is such that he confronts danger head-on, and his disregard for death highlights his commitment to personal honour.

"O, a kiss / Long as my exile, sweet as my revenge!"

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act V, Scene iii)

Context: Coriolanus is reunited with his wife, Virgilia, after being exiled.

Significance: This line symbolises Coriolanus’ conflicting desires for personal love and revenge. His brief moment of tenderness with Virgilia contrasts with his overriding anger and need for vengeance, illustrating the emotional complexity of his character.

"I melt, and am not / Of stronger earth than others."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act V, Scene iii)

Context: Coriolanus, moved by his mother’s plea, agrees to spare Rome.

Significance: This quote shows Coriolanus’ vulnerability and his emotional connection to his family. Despite his pride and strength, his mother’s influence reveals his human side, leading to his tragic decision.

"Cut me to pieces, Volsces; men and lads, / Stain all your edges on me."

Speaker: Coriolanus (Act V, Scene vi)

Context: In the final scene, Coriolanus confronts the Volscians and offers himself up to their violence.

Significance: This line captures Coriolanus’ acceptance of his fate. In a final act of defiance, he chooses to face death on his own terms. His tragic end reflects the culmination of his internal struggles and the inevitable consequence of his rigid pride and honour.

Conclusion

These key quotes from Coriolanus provide insights into the play’s central themes of pride, power, family, and political conflict. The language Shakespeare uses for Coriolanus and the other characters encapsulates the tension between the individual and society, revealing the complex forces at play in the tragedy. Each quote underscores a crucial moment in Coriolanus’ journey, from his military triumph to his political downfall and eventual death.