SOURCE: Van Dyke, Joyce. “Making a Scene: Language and Gesture in Coriolanus.” Shakespeare Survey 30 (1977): 135-46.

In the following essay, Van Dyke explores Shakespeare's characterization of Coriolanus through his non-verbal self-expression and use of language.

It has often been noticed that North's Plutarch describes Coriolanus as ‘eloquent’¹ whereas Shakespeare has often represented him as inarticulate or at a loss for words, and has Menenius remark several times that Coriolanus is not a good speaker. Coriolanus's critics tend to agree with Menenius's judgement: ‘Lacking the verbal resources and the confidence in language required for effective argument, he remains taciturn whenever possible … [He is] insensitive to the tone or connotative qualities of words … there is very little of the lyric in his speech … Nor does he engage in word-play’.² All of these statements are partially true, or true in certain circumstances, but taken together they are an inadequate description of Coriolanus...