『코리오레이너스』에 나타난 볼럼니아의 교육과 실천전략의 아이러니

Abstract

This study is focused on Volumnia's education and her practical strategies for her son Coriolanus. Coriolanus, since his childhood, has been acquired the Roman values__valour, constancy, service and sacrifice to Rome__by his mother Volumnia's education. In wartimes he has served and devoted himself his body and soul to his country, and has greatly accepted "reputation and honour". But in peacetimes he would not follow his mother's instruction. He knows well that for the position of "consulship" the truth of his nature__pride and constancy__cannot endure a Machiavellian way of deception and compromise required in the Roman political world. Also, he cannot pretend to sympathize with the people, plebeians. As a result, he is confronted with a harzard situation where he jeopardizes the political equilibrium of Rome, and is banished out of Rome. Coriolanus is so throughly political that it may be difficult to find any concern for the private man in the play, but I think it lies in Coriolanus' constancy on his integrity: he cannot dissemble the truth of his nature__pride and constancy__ even if it involves the lose of the consulship and exiles from Rome. After banishment, he perceives his banishment as a kind of betrayal action of the Roman society, and decides to revenge himself on Rome. However the deeply cultivated values of love to family and sacrifice and service to Rome, which has been educated by his mother, triumph over his passionate desire for revenge. In conclusion, Coriolanus's behavior being dependent on Volumnia and his family brings no rewards, no love, no sharing with the audience. It brings only the fatal collapse of his self, the awful triumph of Volumnia.