Coriolan Summary

I. Triumphal March: This poem speaks about a march into a city celebrating victory in war. T.S. Eliot relates to the reader the cost of war, both in terms of economics and human waste. The poem shows how it is human nature to enjoy spectacle and power while ignoring the sordid details of what is behind what is on display. Here, in the triumphal march into the city, is an impressive array of humankind's destructive weapons on display. While the citizens of the city are in awe of this impressive display, Eliot shows that men and women die in war and become as ash under the feet of those who remain living.

II. Difficulties of a Statesman: This section of Coriolan discusses the endless talk and meetings and game playing that are part of geopolitical maneuvering. While men and woman die on...