Coriolanus: Act 2, Scene 3 Summary & Analysis

Several Roman citizens enter the Roman Forum, a public marketplace and meeting space. One citizen says that if Coriolanus requires their voices they should not deny him. Another says that the citizens have the power to deny votes, but at the same time they don’t really have the power to do so, since if Coriolanus shows his wounds and tells of his deeds, the citizens must “put [their] tongues into those wounds and speak for them.” If he recounts his noble deeds, they need to nobly accept them, since “ingratitude is monstrous,” and “for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude,” thereby making all of the citizens “monstrous members.”

Such behavior, says the first citizen, would make them look bad, for even though they revolted over corn, Coriolanus didn’t call them the “many-headed multitude,” as the citizens have been called by so many different people. No one recognizes their diversity and their various, conflicting opinions – if they agreed to go one direction they’d end up moving in all directions of the compass at once. One citizen makes an obscene joke, playing on the figurative language about directions, and the citizens agree to give Coriolanus their votes. If Coriolanus would “incline to the people,” there would never be a worthier man for consul.

Coriolanus then enters the public Forum in a gown of humility, along with Menenius. One citizen notes that Coriolanus is approaching in this gown, and instructs the other citizens to watch Coriolanus. The citizens are to meet him only one or two at a time, not all at once, since he is supposed to make his requests for votes personally, and the citizens are supposed to each get the honor of “giving him [their] own voices with [their] own tongues.” The citizens exit and prepare to meet with Coriolanus individually.

Menenius, meanwhile, is coaxing and prepping Coriolanus to meet with the citizens. He says that the worthiest men have participated in the custom of asking for the citizens’ votes. Coriolanus, though, doesn’t know what to say. He believes he cannot even force his tongue to beg, or to say “Look, sir, my wounds! I got them in my country’s service when some certain of your brethren roared and ran from th’ noise of our own drums.”

Menenius warns him not to talk about that, since it would insult the citizens; Coriolanus should instead try and make them think well of him. But Coriolanus says he would rather they forget him like they have forgotten their classic Roman virtues. Menenius warns him not to ruin everything, and prays that Coriolanus will speak to the citizens “in wholesome manner.” He then leaves Coriolanus alone. In his moment alone onstage, Coriolanus hopes the citizens wash their faces and keep their teeth clean.

Three citizens then enter, and Coriolanus greets them, saying they know why he is there. They say they do, and ask what has brought him to stand for the position of consul. He responds, simply, that he is deserving of it. One citizen asks him to clarify, and Coriolanus repeats that he is deserving, though he did not desire the position, since he never wanted to “trouble the poor with begging.” The citizens say Coriolanus must know that they will only give him the consulship if they expect to gain something from him, so Coriolanus asks what the price is. One citizen responds that the price is asking nicely. Nicely, then, Coriolanus asks for the consulship and their voices, saying he has wounds to show in private. The citizens find the situation odd, but they agree to give Coriolanus their votes, and exit.

Two more citizens enter, and Coriolanus asks for their voices. One responds that Coriolanus has been both noble and not noble. He clarifies that Coriolanus has been a scourge to both the enemies and the common people of Rome. Coriolanus, though, believes he is more virtuous because he does not give his love easily. At the same time, he agrees to flatter the common people to earn a better reputation, since this is considered friendly and traditional. Since the people want this flattery instead of genuine love, he says he will play the part and act like someone well loved by the people, even though everyone knows it is just an act. The citizens agree to give Coriolanus their voices and exit.

Alone, Coriolanus says it’s better to die or to starve then to desire and beg for the reward he has already proved he deserves. Why, he asks, should he stand in a toga and beg every random citizen for their unnecessary votes? It’s customary, but he wonders if customs should always be followed, thinking nothing would ever change and mistakes would constantly be made if so. Rather than playing the fool and only obeying custom, Coriolanus would prefer to let the honor and the position go to someone else who would follow custom and beg for votes. At the same time, he recognizes that he is halfway through the task, and since he has come this far, he will suffer through the rest.

Three more citizens enter, and Coriolanus asks for their voices. He says he has fought for them, stood watch for them, and received dozens of wounds for them. He asks to be consul, and the citizens answer that any honest man could not refuse Coriolanus in this request. The citizens exit, and Menenius, Brutus, and Sicinius enter. Menenius says that Coriolanus has fulfilled his customary obligation to the people; the tribunes grant him the people’s vote, and all that remains is for the senate to officially grant him the position. Coriolanus makes sure that he is done asking for voices, and he asks if he is allowed to change out of his candidate’s robe. He plans to change and then appear before the senate as has been requested. Menenius and Coriolanus exit, while Brutus and Sicinius stay behind.

The plebeian citizens enter, and Sicinius asks them how they have chosen Coriolanus. While he has won their votes, Brutus prays that Coriolanus deserves their love. The citizens argue about whether or not Coriolanus was mocking them when asking for their votes, or if it was just his way of speaking. One complains that Coriolanus did not show them his wounds, and all the citizens agree that no one saw the wounds. He said he had wounds which he could show in private, but other than that he simply raved about their voices and dismissed them once they agreed.

Brutus and Sicinius question why the people were so childish and granted Coriolanus their voices. Why didn’t they do as they were taught? When Coriolanus had no power, he was the enemy of the people and constantly spoke against their freedom. Now that he is about to win a place in the government, if he remains so opposed to the needs of commoners, the citizens’ voices might be “curses” to themselves. They should have gotten him to promise to be kinder to the common people (as they were instructed by the tribunes), or enraged him and therefore made him unelectable. If he expressed open contempt while campaigning, why wouldn’t he continue to be hateful once he has power? Have they ever denied anyone their votes?

One citizen notes that Coriolanus has not yet been officially confirmed; they can still deny him. Another citizen chimes in that the people will deny him. The citizens say they have hundreds of voices who all will speak to deny Coriolanus. Brutus instructs them to leave immediately and to tell their friends that they have chosen a consul who will strip them of liberties and ignore their voices. Therefore, they should assemble and undo this mistaken election. They must remember Coriolanus’s pride and how much he hates them, and not continue to let his noble deeds distract them from these qualities.

The people can even blame the tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus say, as long as they take back their votes. The citizens exit for the capitol, repenting their election of Coriolanus. Brutus believes that causing the citizens to rise up like this is a risk worth taking. If Coriolanus becomes enraged by their retracted votes, they’ll capitalize on his anger. By waiting behind, the tribunes hope to make it seem like it is the citizens’ own idea to revoke their support of Coriolanus.