As well as being a soldier, Coriolanus is also a husband, a father and a son, and we see these domestic relationships at certain points in the play and the film.
Volumnia, Coriolanus' mother, is a powerful force in the play; for example, she says in Act V ‘Thou art my warrior, I holp to frame thee’ indicating her role in shaping her son's character.
Played by Vanessa Redgrave in the film, Volumnia has evident power over, and great pride in, her son.
- From what you know of the play, how would you describe Volumnia’s relationship with her son – what are her hopes and expectations of him?
- How have the filmmakers, and the actress playing Volumnia, interpreted her character? Give evidence for your answer.
- How is Coriolanus' wife Virgilia portrayed in the film, compared to his mother? Consider how Coriolanus behaves towards each of them in the film, giving examples.
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