How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #7
MARTIUS
Thanks.—What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?
[...]
He that will give good words to thee will flatter
Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,
That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you;
The other makes you proud...
you?
With every minute you do change a mind
And call him noble that was now your hate, (1.1.174-176; 178-181; 193-195)
Coriolanus doesn't beat around the bush. Here, he tells the plebeians he can't stand them because they're (1) dishonest, (2) cowardly, and (3) fickle. Ouch. Way to be a callous jerk and a class snob, Cor. The thing is, Coriolanus might just be right. We're reminded over and over again the plebeians really are dishonest (they lie about having wanted Coriolanus exiled from Rome at 4.6.136-145); cowardly (they run away in fear during the battle at Corioles in Act 1, scene 4); and fickle (they take their votes back about 2 seconds after they agree to elect Coriolanus to office at 2.3.253-255). Is the play telling us that the lower classes really don't deserve any political power?
Quote #8
CORIOLANUS
I sometime lay here in Corioles
At a poor man's house; he used me kindly.
He cried to me; I saw him prisoner;
But then Aufidius was with in my view,
And wrath o'erwhelmed my pity. I request you
To give my poor host freedom. (1.9.91-96)
Er, wait a minute. Remember when we said the play portrays the plebeians (especially the Roman plebeians) as dishonest, cowardly, and fickle? Maybe not. Here, Coriolanus explains that a Volscian plebian was a generous host and treated him well while he (Coriolanus) was busy destroying the poor guy's city. Apparently, the dude was taken as a war prisoner and Coriolanus wants him released. The problem is that Coriolanus just can't seem to remember the guy's name so nobody ever gets around to helping him out. In the end, he's just another nameless plebian, and Coriolanus is just another aristocratic jerk.
Quote #9
FIRST OFFICER
That's a brave fellow, but he's vengeance
proud, and loves not the common people.
SECOND OFFICER
'Faith, there had been many great
men that have flattered the people, who ne'er loved
them; and there be many that they have loved, they
know not wherefore; so that, if they love they
know not why, they hate upon no better a ground.
therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether
they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge
he has in their disposition and, out of his noble
carelessness, lets them plainly see 't. (2.2.5-15)
At the Capitol, a couple of Officers prepare for the senate and talk about Coriolanus' chances of getting elected. On the one hand, he's a "brave" war hero. On the other hand, he's way too proud and hates the "common people." And it's hard to wield power of a group of people who think you hate them.