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Literature Review

Shakespeare, an English poet and playwright, produced many comedies, histories and tragedies, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and Coriolanus is his last tragedy and last romance. The hero Marcius was a brave ad upright man, so he was not willing to ingratiate himself with those civilians. Also because of his pride, he chose to attack his country as revenge when he was exiled instead of keeping silent or taking it. It is his noble quality that leads to his downfall and death. However he did commit treason. That is why his qualities become his tragic flaws and make him a tragic hero. In the play, the Roman Republic is a democratic country, but actually the civilians were used and visibly controlled by two selfish and contemptible tribunes.

A. C. Bradley(2006) described this play as "built on the grand scale" in Shakespearean Tragedy. The warrior Coriolanus is perhaps the most opaque of Shakespeare's tragic heroes, rarely pausing to soliloquize or reveal the motives behind his prideful isolation from Roman society. Readers and playgoers have often found him an unsympathetic character, although his caustic pride is strangely, almost delicately balanced at times by a reluctance to be praised by his compatriots and an unwillingness to exploit and slander for political gain. His dislike of being praised might be seen as an expression of his pride; all he cares about is his own self-image, whereas acceptance of praise might imply that his value is affected by others' opinion of him.

Shao Xueping(2012) blamed Coriolanuss tragedy to his mother Volumnia who has strong personality and is keen to fame. She intervened Coriolanuss social affairs and encouraged him to pursue power and honor. Coriolanus has Oedipus complex in some ways. His despising to civilians is also affected by his mother. At last, he even gave up his revenge for his mother and got killed. However, there are huge differences between them. Coriolanus is so proud that he can not fawn on civilians while his mother can pretend to be peoples friends, so Coriolanus is created by his typical Roman mother and also destroyed by his mother.