Fere's Language & Literature Blog: Act V, Scene III

Act V, Scene III

Introduction and Context:

This passage is from Coriolanus
Political play was written somewhere between 1605 and 1608
Significant to time period Shakespeare lives in, lots of political change after death of queen Elizabeth in 1603
This passage is situated near the end of the play

Overview:

Martius (Coriolanus) joins forces with Aufidius
Coriolanus and the Volscian forces approach Rome
The three V’s show up
Volumnia (and Virgilia) attempt to persuade him not to attack Rome
Volumnia begs Martius to remain peaceful, or else he would lose his nobility, honor, and respect of others
Coriolanus starts to get sentimental and softens

Structure:

The structure is linear
No flashbacks and -forwards

Purpose and Significance

To reestablish the theme of redistribution and change of power
To further develop Coriolanus’s complex relationship with his mother
To stress Coriolanus’ need to adapt to the transition of power in order to retain his honor and respect
Coriolanus’ nature to resist shifts in power
Possibly foreshadows Aufidius’ revenge later in scene V

Analysis

Lines 1-21:

Criteria A:

This section of the passage displays Volumnia’s desperation to change Coriolanus’ mind. She tries to emotionally manipulate in saying that if “Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee” (line 3). However, she makes her admiration for her son’s hard power very clear within the passage, as she kneels for him “let us shame him with our knees” (line 6). However, it is important to acknowledge the Volumnia’s contradictory speech, in which she both admires and despises her son for his headed handhold to his hard power, she does this to emotionally attempt to manipulate him into agreeing to peace. “longs more pride than pity our prayers” (7-8) Volumnia however shows her true self when she displays her power over Coriolanus in line 11 to 20. She attempts to do this through emotional manipulation, allowing Coriolanus to feel empathetic and regretful for letting down his mother. This therefore indicates Volumnia’s speculation that Coriolanus will fail them, being considered powerless by his mother by his ignorance. “This boy, that cannot tell what he would have but kneels and holds bans for fellowship” (line 12-3)

Criteria B:

Shakespeare makes use of stage directions to amplify the contradiction position which Volumnia takes towards Coriolanus, where she is obeying by kneeling for him, yet she shames him for favoring his will for power over the relationship with his family. Volumnia amplifies the dramatic irony, in which the reader is fully aware of Volumnia’s original intentions, by stating that she will gives up on Coriolanus. “so we will home to Rome” (line 10) Volumnia’s attitude, still consciously manipulative, transitions to a defeated attitude towards her son. This can be seen through use of stage directions. Within line 11 to 19, Volumnia uses imagery to appear more persuasive towards the audience. Her use of language shows her power over her son as she has now, after persuading the audience, persuaded her son. This is seen through stage directions, “He holds her by the hand” (line 21)

Lines 21-49:

Criteria A:

Coriolanus is hit by consciousness of the earnest of his actions, in which he immediately apologizes to his mother. “O mother, mother! O! You have won a happy victory to Rome” (line 27-8). This is very significant as the power within this passage, shifts from Coriolanus to his mother. Coriolanus was represented as being the dominant character in the beginning, but now seems to obey his mother instead (the roles have reversed). He recognizes Volumnia’s power as she has potentially saved her city from destruction. This breaks down Coriolanus’ image of being invincible, as he is defeated by his own mother. This exposes his character to mortality, foreshadowing his death “Most dangerously you have with him prevail’d, if not most mortal to him” (line 30-1).

Criteria B:

Through the use of repetition, Coriolanus’ awareness of his resistance to change is dramatized. Not only does the repetition of “mother, mother” (line 24 and 27) show his sudden consciousness, it also signifies the awareness of Volumnia’s impact of her power on him. It is even described as a “unnatural scene” (line 25) as this sense seems unexpected to Coriolanus. Aufidius’ sarcastic remark about Volumnia’s impact foreshadows Aufidius’ plans of revenge, as he displays clearly an acted sense of sympathy which is not sincere “I was moved with withal” (line 37) The metaphor “Mine eyes to sweat compassion” reinforces Coriolanus’s surrender of power as he is enormously inflicted.

Conclusion

This specific passage in the play is significant in reestablish the theme of redistribution and change of power from Coriolanus to Volumnia, who will return to Rome as a hero. This is shown through Coriolanus’ sudden conscience, revealing his complex relationship with his mother in which Volumnia overpowers him. Coriolanus’ infliction of becoming ‘mortal’ exposes his vulnerability, which is taken advantage of in Aufidius’ revenge plot which is foreshadowed.

Passage:

VOLUMNIA

Say my request's unjust,
And spurn me back: but if it be not so,
Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee,
That thou restrain'st from me the duty which
To a mother's part belongs. He turns away:
Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.
To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride
Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;
This is the last: so we will home to Rome,

And die among our neighbours. Nay behold’s:

This boy that cannot tell what he would have

But kneels and holds up bands for fellowship,

Does reason our petition with more strength

Than thou hast to deny’t. Come, let us go:

This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;

His wife is in Corioli and his child

Like him by chance. Yet gives us our dispatch:

I am hush’d until our city be a-fire