Cominius

Play

Coriolanus

Summary

Cominius is the Roman general who commands the army in the war against the Volscians and is Coriolanus's direct superior — a competent, honourable soldier who recognises and celebrates Coriolanus's exceptional valour. It is Cominius who bestows the surname "Coriolanus" upon Caius Martius after the storming of Corioli, calling him before the army and delivering a panegyric on his feats. In the political crisis that follows, Cominius is a loyal supporter of Coriolanus but lacks the influence to save him, and his subsequent attempt to intercede with Coriolanus at the Volscian camp is rebuffed along with Menenius's.

Notable Quotations

"He is their god; he leads them like a thing / Made by some other deity than Nature, / That shapes man better." *(4.6)*

"It is held / That valour is the chiefest virtue, and / Most dignifies the haver." *(2.2)*

Cross-references

• Coriolanus — the play
• Tragedies
• character_coriolanus — his greatest soldier, whose name he bestows
• character_menenius — fellow patrician and supporter of Coriolanus