Coriolanus: Caius Martius

Caius Martius is the protagonist of William Shakespeare's play, Coriolanus. He is primarily portrayed as the tragic hero of Rome who won the tragic battle against the Volsces and saved Rome from being invaded. At the same time, Shakespeare does not portray Martius as the typical hero who is admired by the citizens after he has saved the day because he saves the day for his own pride rather than his own love for Rome. In addition to that, Caius Martius is also hated by the common people of Rome as he often insults them and treats them like actual low class citizens with no value and respect whatsoever, by cursing and pouring slurs at them. He also has a odd relationship with his mother, Volumnia, as his mother encourages him to maintain that violent, proud and cynical attitude, wants him to be injured in battle and has an awkward "tension" with his mother. He is also characterized as impatient and often interrupts, as highlighted in the conversation of Sicinius and Britus. Shakespeare also created the character Menenius in order to show contrast of the two characters. In a nutshell. Martius has an arrogant, tempered, self centered personality. On the other hand, he also obtains positive characteristics including his bravery in war against the Volsces and he may be seem fair at times when he has received benefit. Overall, Shakespeare has characterized Caius Martius as a complicated character which does not correspond to a typical heroic character. 

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