Minor

Titus Lartius - a general who, along with Coriolanus and Cominius, opposes the Volscians and leads the Romans against the city of Corioli. He is an uncomplicated and straightforward military man and drops out from the play as soon as the action moves from the battlefield to the politics of Rome.

Young Marcius - CoriolanusÂ’ son. He is a boy of four or five years and speaks only one line and a half in the play. His character is sketched through the observations of Volumnia and Valeria, and it is evident that he is very much like his father.

Virgilia - CoriolanusÂ’ wife. She is soft-spoken and often completely overshadowed by her domineering mother-in-law; yet she is an effective foil to VolumniaÂ’s rhetoric. She, along with her son and Volumnia, persuades Coriolanus to spare Rome.

Lieutenant to Aufidius - a junior officer to Aufidius. He listens to his leaderÂ’s complaints that Coriolanus has changed his loyalty but not his nature. His character is that of a yes-man and does not develop during the course of the play.

Nicanor - the Roman traitor who hurries from Rome with the news that CoriolanusÂ’ banishment has disheartened the Senators, who are at odds with the commoners. He warns that the conditions are just right for the Volscians to attack Rome. His chief role is to spy for the Volscians.

Adrian, a Volscian - the messenger who meets the Roman spy Nicanor on the road and hears his news. His chief characteristic is the happiness he derives from meeting a fellow spy.

Valeria - a Roman matron and friend of Virgilia. Shakespeare characterizes her aptly as one of Virgilia’s “gossips.” She is a talkative, empty-headed friend who has more concern for a pregnant neighbor than for Virgilia’s agony at the news of Coriolanus’ departure.

Table of Contents | Printable Version