Plot Summary (OCR A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes
Plot summary
Opening conflict in Rome
The play begins in ancient Rome following a severe famine that has left the common people hungry and desperate. These ordinary citizens, known as plebeians, rise up to demand control over the city's grain supply and the right to set their own prices for food. This challenge to authority deeply troubles the ruling class.
In response to the popular unrest, the aristocratic ruling class (the patricians) agree to grant the plebeians five elected representatives called tribunes. This political concession aims to give the common people a voice in government, but it proves controversial among some patricians.
The tension between plebeians and patricians forms the political backdrop of the entire play. This class conflict drives much of the plot and reflects Shakespeare's interest in power dynamics within societies.
Caius Martius and class conflict
One patrician particularly angered by this development is the proud soldier Caius Martius. He holds nothing but contempt for the lower classes and believes they are unworthy of political representation. His arrogant attitude towards the plebeians establishes him as a divisive figure from the start, respected for his military prowess but deeply unpopular with ordinary Romans.
Coriolanus's excessive pride and contempt for common people are established immediately as his defining characteristics. These traits will prove to be his fatal flaw, driving every major conflict in the play.
War with the Volscians
The battle for Corioles
Whilst political tensions simmer in Rome, war breaks out with the Volscians, a neighbouring Italian tribe. The Volscian forces are commanded by Tullus Aufidius, a formidable warrior who serves as Caius Martius's great rival. The two men have clashed many times before, and each harbours both respect and hatred for the other.
In the military campaign that follows, Martius demonstrates extraordinary courage and tactical brilliance. The Romans succeed in capturing the Italian city of Corioles, with Martius playing a decisive role in the victory. His heroism on the battlefield cements his reputation as one of Rome's greatest warriors.
Gaining the name Coriolanus
In recognition of his remarkable achievements during the campaign, particularly his bravery at Corioles, the Roman senate honours Martius with a new name: Coriolanus. This title celebrates his conquest of the city and marks him as a hero of Rome. The name Coriolanus will define him for the rest of his life, linking his identity to military glory.
The granting of the name "Coriolanus" is a pivotal moment. It represents the peak of his military success, but ironically, this same name will later symbolise his downfall. His identity becomes inseparable from warfare and conquest, making political compromise nearly impossible.
Return to Rome and political struggle
The consulship opportunity
Upon returning to Rome victorious, Coriolanus receives a hero's welcome from the patrician class. The senate, impressed by his military record and leadership, offers him the prestigious position of consul, one of the highest political offices in the Roman Republic.
However, Roman political custom requires that anyone seeking the consulship must first win the approval of the common people. This presents a significant obstacle for the proud warrior.
The need for plebeian support
To secure the consulship, Coriolanus must go among the plebeians and ask for their votes. This task proves deeply humiliating for someone of his temperament. He undertakes it with great reluctance, barely concealing his disdain for those he must petition.
Initially, despite his evident contempt, the common people agree to grant him their support. They recognise his service to Rome and are willing to overlook his arrogance in light of his military achievements.
The tribunes' manipulation
Two shrewd tribunes, Brutus and Sicinius, view Coriolanus as a dangerous enemy of the people. They recognise that his contempt for ordinary Romans makes him unsuitable for high political office. These tribunes understand popular sentiment and know how to manipulate it effectively.
Brutus and Sicinius work to turn the plebeians against Coriolanus. Through clever persuasion, they prod the common people to reverse their decision and withdraw their support for his consulship.
Political skill vs. military might: The tribunes demonstrate that political cunning can defeat even the greatest warrior. They understand how to work within the democratic system, while Coriolanus remains trapped by his aristocratic values and military mindset. This contrast highlights a central theme: different arenas require different types of power.
Coriolanus's downfall and exile
When the plebeians change their minds and refuse him their votes, Coriolanus's pride erupts in uncontrolled fury. He speaks out passionately and recklessly against the very concept of popular rule, arguing that ordinary people have no right to political power. His intemperate words reveal his true feelings about democracy and the common citizens of Rome.
Seizing upon these inflammatory statements, Brutus and Sicinius declare Coriolanus a traitor to the Roman state. They argue that anyone who speaks against the people's right to representation threatens the Republic itself. With popular support firmly behind them, the tribunes succeed in driving Coriolanus into exile, banishing him from the city he once defended.
The tragic irony of Coriolanus's exile is profound: the greatest defender of Rome is cast out by the very people he protected. His inability to control his pride and adapt to political reality transforms him from hero to exile in a matter of moments.
Revenge and the march on Rome
Alliance with Aufidius
Burning with desire for revenge against Rome, the exiled Coriolanus travels to the Volscian city of Antium. There he seeks out his old enemy, Tullus Aufidius, and offers to make peace with him. This represents an extraordinary reversal, as the two men have spent years trying to kill each other on the battlefield.
Aufidius is planning a new military campaign against the Romans when Coriolanus arrives. Despite their history as enemies, Aufidius welcomes Coriolanus's offer of assistance. The prospect of having Rome's greatest general fighting for the Volscians proves too valuable to refuse. However, Aufidius soon begins to feel uncomfortable as his new ally overshadows him and takes command of the Volscian forces.
The cost of revenge: Coriolanus's decision to join forces with Rome's enemies represents the ultimate betrayal of his former identity. His wounded pride has driven him to become what he once fought against—an enemy of Rome. This alliance sets up the play's final tragic conflicts.
The siege of Rome
The combined Volscian army, now led effectively by Coriolanus, proceeds to march on Rome. The city falls into panic at the approach of this force commanded by their former champion. Rome's military commanders find themselves helpless to stop the advance, as no Roman general can match Coriolanus's tactical genius.
Soon, Aufidius and Coriolanus establish their camp outside the city walls, preparing for the final assault. Two of Coriolanus's oldest friends come out from the city to plead with him for mercy, hoping that personal bonds will change his mind. However, he refuses to listen to them, remaining fixed on his course of revenge.
Resolution and death
Volumnia's intervention
When all other appeals have failed, Coriolanus's mother, Volumnia, comes to beg him to make peace with Rome. Throughout his life, Coriolanus has been devoted to his mother above all others. She has shaped his values and ambitions, particularly his commitment to military glory and aristocratic honour.
Volumnia's emotional plea proves successful where all others have failed. Unable to resist his mother's request, Coriolanus finally relents and agrees to spare Rome. He negotiates peace terms rather than destroying the city. Back in Rome, the grateful citizens hail Volumnia as the saviour of the city, recognising that only she possessed the influence to stop her son.
The power of maternal influence: Volumnia is the only person who can override Coriolanus's pride and desire for revenge. This demonstrates that even the most inflexible warrior remains bound by the deepest human relationships. His devotion to his mother is both his most human quality and ultimately the cause of his death.
Return to Antium and assassination
Meanwhile, Coriolanus and the Volscian army return to Antium without having achieved their goal of conquering Rome. When they arrive, the residents initially celebrate Coriolanus as a hero for his military leadership.
However, Aufidius feels deeply slighted by Coriolanus's decision to spare Rome. He sees this as a betrayal of the Volscian cause and publicly declares that Coriolanus's failure to take the city amounts to treachery. Aufidius argues that Coriolanus has put his personal feelings above Volscian interests.
In the heated argument that follows, tensions explode into violence. Some of Aufidius's men assassinate Coriolanus, ending the life of Rome's greatest warrior. The man who could not be defeated in battle dies because he could not overcome his own pride and the conflicting loyalties that ultimately destroyed him.
Coriolanus's death at the hands of the Volscians completes the tragic cycle. Rejected by both Rome and the Volscians, he dies belonging to neither side. His inability to compromise or adapt to political reality leads to his isolation and violent end.
Key Points to Remember:
- Coriolanus's fatal flaw is his excessive pride and contempt for common people, which ultimately leads to his exile and death
- The play explores the conflict between military heroism and political reality, showing that battlefield success does not guarantee political wisdom
- Volumnia, Coriolanus's mother, is the only person with enough influence over him to change his mind, demonstrating the power of family bonds
- The tribunes Brutus and Sicinius successfully manipulate public opinion to destroy Coriolanus, highlighting the importance of political skill
- Coriolanus's alliance with his former enemy Aufidius shows how exile and revenge can lead someone to betray their own people, creating a tragic cycle that ends in his assassination
- The play demonstrates how inflexibility and inability to compromise can transform a hero into a tragic figure, isolated from both friend and foe