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Act 5, Scene 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Coriolanus, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Politics, Class, and Rome
Language and Names
War, Violence, and Masculinity
Family and Femininity
Heroism vs. Humanity
Summary
Analysis
In a street in Rome, a senator praises Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria as they pass by with other lords, calling Volumnia the “patroness, the life of Rome!” He says the people should strew the street with flowers for these women, and undo the banishment of Martius. Everyone cries out, welcoming the ladies back to Rome.
Volumnia has become a new kind of Roman hero in place of her son, and she seems able to preserve her humanity (unlike Coriolanus) in her heroism due to her femininity. The loss of Coriolanus’ heroism is reflected in the loss of his new surname, as he is called “Martius” again.
Themes
