How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #10
AUFIDIUS
Name not the god, thou boy of tears!
[...]
CORIOLANUS
Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart
Too great for what contains it. 'Boy'? O slave!—
[...]
Cut me to pieces, Volsces. Men and lads,
Stain all your edges on me. 'Boy'? False hound!
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there
That like an eagle in a dovecote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioles,
Alone I did it. 'Boy'! (5.6.120; 123-124; 133-138)
Coriolanus' blurts out whatever comes to his mind, but that's not his only problem. Throughout the play, he often allows other peoples' words to provoke him into angry tirades. That's exactly what happens here. When Tullus Aufidius taunts him in front of the Volscians by calling him "boy," Coriolanus flips out. Not only does he brag about killing a bunch of Volscians during the siege of Corioles, he also dares the Volscians to go ahead and kill him. A few moments later, that's exactly what they do. Oops.