Virgilia: Quiet Grief in a Loud Play
First appears: Act 1, Scene 3
Coriolanus calls Virgilia 'my gracious silence.' She says little, but what she says matters. When he returns from war, she weeps rather than celebrating, and he kisses her before anything else.
She is the only person in the play who loves Coriolanus without agenda. Volumnia loves the warrior she made. Menenius loves a political ally. Virgilia loves the man.
In Act 5 she kneels with Volumnia to stop Coriolanus from destroying Rome. She does not give a great speech. Her presence is enough.
Key Scenes
Famous Quotes
“Indeed, no, by your patience; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.”
Virgilia — Act 1, Scene 3
“The sorrow that delivers us thus changed Makes you think so.”
Virgilia — Act 5, Scene 3
Themes
Other Characters in Coriolanus
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