How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #4
MARTIUS
They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.
I sin in envying his nobility,
And, were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me only he.
COMINIUS
You have fought together?
MARTIUS
Were half to half the world by the ears and he,
Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make
Only my wars with him. He is a lion
That I am proud to hunt. (1.1.254-263)
Hmm. Why is Coriolanus giving an enemy soldier (Tullus Aufidius) such serious praise? Because the dude is an awesome soldier. Coriolanus respects his enemy a whole lot more than he respects his own people. That's how important military achievement is in this play.
Quote #5
VOLUMNIA
When
yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of
my womb, when youth with comeliness plucked
all gaze his way, when for a day of kings' entreaties
a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding,
I, considering how honor would become
such a person—that it was no better than picture-like
to hang by the wall, if renown made it not
stir—was pleased to let him seek danger where he
was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him,
from whence he returned, his brows bound with
oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy
at first hearing he was a man-child than now in
first seeing he had proved himself a man. (1.3.6-18)
Ah, motherly love. Here, Volumnia brags about how she raised her son to be the most deadly warrior in Rome. She sent him off to war when most moms were insisting that their sons stay at home. According to Volumnia, the only way for Coriolanus to prove "himself a man" was for him to become a warrior. Hm. Between that and our mom telling us that if we didn't get into Princeton we'd end up living in van down by the river … we'd almost take the battlefield.
Quote #6
VOLUMNIA
Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:
'Come on, you cowards! You were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome.' His bloody brow
With his mailed hand then wiping, forth he goes
Like to a harvestman that's tasked to mow
Or all or lose his hire.
VIRGILIA
His bloody brow? O Jupiter, no blood! (1.3.35-40)
Mothers and their daughters-in-law, right? Here, Volumnia fantasizes about her son's military exploits and describes how awesome Coriolanus' "bloody brow" must look on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Virgilia (Coriolanus' wife) is horrified at the idea of her hubby being wounded in battle. Basically, Virgilia is the only person in the play who doesn't think warfare is awesome. But does that make her a big ol' wuss, or the only person we actually like?