Characterisation of Coriolanus in Act I

Act I of the play Coriolanus manifests to the audience how Shakespeare effectively denotes his purpose of solely emphasizing essential historical and political contextual concepts such as the genre, setting and future conflicts of the play, in order to establish the fundamental essence of the play.

Throughout the exposition of the play, Shakespeare essentially introduces the tragic hero and protagonist of the play known as Caius Martius from the perspective of the rioting Plebeians in order to portray the political hierarchy during the early Republican period of Rome. In the beginning of the play, the audience are presented with the rioting of the aggravating plebeians against the Patricians specifically, Maritus because he has set a high price of grain that they are not capable of affording. This is evident when the Plebeians compare Maritus to an animal by describing him as: “a very dog to the commonalty” (I.i.27-28) that clearly portrays the hatred the civilians have towards him of which allows the audience to decode the characteristic traits of Maritus as a powerful figure. Ultimately, Maritus does not prioritise the basic needs of the civilians but rather focuses on his political power during war at the battlefields. Further more, Shakespeare continues to establish a fundamental understanding of the political hiearchy that further demonstrates the unraveling sense of Maritus' arrogant and short-tempered character where he distinctly says: "You dissentious rouges, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs?" (1.1. 179-181) There is no doubt that such use of a rhetoric question towards the plebeians represents to the audience how Martius is taking advantage of being a Patrician as Shakespeare depicts the political contexts of the hierarchal system during the 20th century. Moreover, Shakespeare establishes the political and historical importance of the play rather than a common conventional tragedy by depicting the hierarchical system in order to develop Martius' figure.

Shakespeare divulges to the audience crucial cognizance of the setting specifically, the two worlds that is evident throughout the play including the battle field vs. the city and the capitol building, in order to establish the pivotal understanding of the play. When Maritus is engaged during the Battle at Corioles, he is represented as an influential and courageous figure, similarly to a demigod, he is brave and is willing to take injury for the sake of his country. This is evident where he says: "Fight with hearts more proof than shield." The audience is able to appreciate the determined and patriotic self of Martius as he is portrayed as a brave heroic fighter that obviously contrasts to how he was perceived by the Plebeians in the beginning of Act I. 

Shakespeare further establishes a sense of conflicts by foreshadowing future conflicts with Coriolanus. This is evident when the plebeians were rioting against him wishing him death. Clearly, this foreshadows how they exile of him to Rome. Not to forget another conflict that was mentioned was the tribunes including Brutus and Sincinus that further establish how they are involved in future issues.

Shakespeare efficiently depicts his purpose of emphasizing  historical and political contextually concepts in order to establish important aspects such as the genre, setting and future conflicts that further portray the exposition of such a tragic flawed hero known as, Coriolanus.