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How Is Coriolanus Infringe The Roman Warrior Code

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How Is Coriolanus Infringe The Roman Warrior Code
In Coriolanus, Shakespeare to a full extent questions the value of the Roman warrior code and sees the difficulties that it causes. Firstly I discuss the warrior code that is valued and held in Rome. Secondly I analyze Coriolanus inability to infringe the warrior code entirely. Thirdly I explore the consequences this has on Roman society.

Being an honorable, courageous and bold soldier is regarded as having Roman warlike virtues and following the Roman warrior code. Bret and Kate McKay believed that ‘manliness meant living a life of virtue’ in ancient Rome. Furthermore they explain that virtue refers to having ‘masculine strength’. Volumnia would “rather have eleven [sons] die nobly” than one son enjoy a peaceful life, this shows that fighting in a war was regarded as nobility and superiority, and shows it is more acceptable in Rome to fight in war than to be a noncombatant. Rome is a very violent society – they valued military prowess. …show more content…
Coriolanus will ‘take him for a Volsces, and he shall feel mine edge’ and not be sensitive, this shows us Coriolanus unflinching conviction and loyalty to his cause but also evidence to his brutality. Aufidius observes that Coriolanus ‘could not carry his honors even’ in a time of war and in time of peace without losing his balance. This suggests that the same things that lead to his downfall in Rome will bring him down in Antium. Coriolanus cannot balance his characteristics of virtue and pride, which leads to him not being able to infringe and disobey the warrior code of
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