# Scene II explained — Coriolanus

> Chapter companion for Coriolanus by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius confront the tribunes Sicinius and Brutus after Coriolanus's banishment. Volumnia fiercely berates them, defending her son's honor and condemning their role in his exile, while Menenius tries to keep the peace.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/coriolanus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters