Coriolanus

The tribunes celebrate their victory as Coriolanus leaves, but agree that they must appear more humble now that the deed is accomplished. As they walk, they encounter Volumnia and Virgilia. While they try to avoid them, the women confront them. Volumnia and Virgilia scathingly condemn the tribunes for what they have done to Coriolanus. The tribune Sicinius protests that Coriolanus has done this to himself, but Volumnia continues to curse him and remind him of her family’s military service to Rome. Menenius comes to escort the women back home, and Volumnia tells him that her anger towards the tribunes cannot be forgotten.

Meanwhile, a Volscian soldier named Adrian and a Roman traitor named Nicanor meet outside of the city. Nicanor tells Adrian that Rome has been undergoing a period of upheaval due to conflict between the plebeians and the patricians. He reveals that Coriolanus has been banished, comparing his parting from Rome to a husband who has fallen out with his wife, leaving her vulnerable to being seduced. Adrian says that this intelligence will be welcome to the Volsces, particularly their leader Aufidius, who has been waiting for a chance to attack Rome again.

Coriolanus arrives at the city of Antium, where Aufidius and the Volsces have been living. He is in disguise, knowing that if any of the people recognized him, they would attack him with stones for all of the violence he has inflicted upon their tribe. He remarks to himself about the irony of his situation, stating that he plans to turn against his own birthplace and join with the Volsces to attack Rome.

Coriolanus arrives at the house where Aufidius and his men are feasting. While the servants initially turn him away at the door, thinking him a strange beggar due to his shabby clothing, he insists that he will not leave and strikes at them. Alarmed by his fierce countenance, the servants go and bring Aufidius to meet with him.

Aufidius does not recognize him and Coriolanus warns him that when he hears his name, he will be angry. Revealing himself to be Caius Martius, his former rival, he tells Aufidius to either kill him on the spot or allow him to join with the Volsces and attack Rome. He offers to serve in Aufidius’s army as a soldier.

Aufidius is delighted and embraces him, confessing that he is more excited to see him than he would be to see his own wife, and telling him of how he has often dreamed of their fights. They bring Coriolanus into the hall and the servants gossip that Aufidius is clearly the inferior soldier in comparison to Coriolanus, and that he is essentially allowing Coriolanus to lead his own army.

Back in Rome, the tribunes walk through the city and celebrate how peaceful the plebeians have been since Coriolanus was exiled. A messenger brings word that a captured spy has revealed that the Volsces have broken the treaty and are marching to attack Rome. The tribunes initially dismiss this as a lie, but more messengers appear and confirm the report.

Menenius is fearful, warning the tribunes that they will now be made to regret banishing Coriolanus. The tribunes persist in their denial, but a final messenger reports to the senate that Coriolanus is the one leading the attack and that Aufidius follows him as though he were one of his officers. Menenius laments that nothing can save Rome now: Coriolanus will not listen to the pleas of the tribunes or the people, and he also will not listen to his noble friends who stood by and did not object as he was driven from the city. The people become fearful, turning against the tribunes and claiming that they never wanted Coriolanus banished at all.

Aufidius and his lieutenant prepare to attack Rome. The lieutenant warns Aufidius that his own people treat Coriolanus like a god. Aufidius is concerned by Coriolanus’s strength and popularity, but he knows that he can do nothing to stop it without harming his own chances of conquering Rome. However, he analyzes Coriolanus’s character, deciding that he is an unconquerable soldier who will be able to take over the city easily due to his innately noble nature. Aufidius also knows that Coriolanus’s strengths and virtues are also the very thing that has destroyed him in the past: His noble pride, his ferocity, and his sense of honor might once again prove to be his undoing.