Scene II explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Motherhood and Influence

  Volumnia's fierce defense of her son and her cursing of the tribunes demonstrate the powerful, albeit indirect, influence of a mother in Roman political life.

• Political Manipulation

  Sicinius and Brutus's calculated retreat after showing their power, and Volumnia's public condemnation, illustrate the manipulative tactics used by both sides in the political struggle.

Characters to notice

• Sicinius Velutus

  Confronted by Volumnia after Coriolanus's banishment; she curses him for his role in the exile.

• Junius Brutus

  Confronted alongside Sicinius; Volumnia accuses him of inciting the rabble against her son.

• Volumnia

  Rages against the tribunes, defending Coriolanus and lamenting his banishment with fierce maternal anger.

• Virgilia

  Supports Volumnia in the confrontation, expressing her own grief and anger over her husband's exile.

• Menenius Agrippa

  Attempts to calm Volumnia and mediate the tense encounter with the tribunes.

Key passages

• “Bid them all home; he’s gone, and we’ll no further.”

  Tell everyone to go home; Coriolanus is banished, and we won't pursue him further.

  Sicinius dismisses the crowd after Coriolanus's exile.

• “Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done Than when it was a-doing.”

  Now that we've demonstrated our authority, we should act more modestly afterward than we did while exercising it.

  Brutus advises the tribunes to appear humble after their political victory.

• “Anger’s my meat; I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding.”

  Anger is my only sustenance; I consume myself with it, and thus I will starve even as I feed on my rage.

  Volumnia expresses that her grief and rage are all-consuming.