Coriolanus: Act 5, Scene 6 Summary & Analysis

In a public place in Corioles, Aufidius enters with some attendants. He instructs them to tell the lords of the city that he has arrived, and says that they are to gather the patricians and common people in the marketplace to hear him speak. The attendants exit, and some Volscian conspirators of Aufidius’s faction enter. One asks about Coriolanus, and Aufidius describes him as a man poisoned and killed by his own charity. They plan to gauge the mindset of the people before continuing with their plan, knowing that whosever survives will inherit all of the people’s love.

Aufidius believes he has a good cause to attack Coriolanus. He advocated for Coriolanus, who in turn flattered all the Volscians and Aufidius’s friends, changing in his nature as he was never known to do before. One Volscian conspirator notes how “stout” Coriolanus was when standing for consul, which caused him to lose the position. Aufidius explains that when Coriolanus was banished for this stoutness, he showed up on Aufidius’s doorstep, presented his throat to be slit, then joined Aufidius.

Aufidius says that he then let Coriolanus take on responsibility and gave him whatever he wanted, till ultimately, he treated Aufidius like a follower or a mercenary, not a partner. After all of this, when the army was poised to take Rome, for a few drops of women’s tears (“which are as cheap as lies”) Coriolanus “sold the blood and labor of their great action.” For this, he will die, and Aufidius will renew his glory in Coriolanus’s fall.

Drums and trumpets sound, signaling that Coriolanus has entered the town. A Volscian conspirator notes that when Aufidius entered his home town he was met with silence, but Coriolanus receives earsplitting noise. Another says that fools whose children Coriolanus killed are now tearing their throats shouting to give him glory. The third conspirator says that Aufidius should strike before Coriolanus has the chance to express himself or move the people. The Volscian lords of the city enter, greeting Aufidius and saying that they received his letter and believe that Coriolanus’s behavior (making peace when the Volscians easily could have defeated Rome) was inexcusable.

Coriolanus enters with the Volscian people behind him. Coriolanus hails the Volscian lords, saying that he has returned still hating Rome and still under their command. He led the armies “with bloody passage” all the way to the gates of Rome, and has brought home spoils equaling more than a third of the cost of the war. He has made peace with Rome that is honorable to both sides, and he hands the peace offering to the lords. Aufidius, though, tells the lords not to read it, saying they should tell the “traitor in the highest degree” that he has abused them.

Coriolanus is shocked, saying “Traitor? How now?” and Aufidius says, “Ay, traitor, Martius.” Again, Coriolanus responds in brief confusion, just repeating “Martius?” Aufidius then launches into a speech, calling his rival Caius Martius, refusing to grace him with the “stolen name” of “Coriolanus” in the very city of Corioles. Aufidius tells the Volscian lords that Coriolanus betrayed the state for the Roman tears of his wife and his mother, breaking his oath. Coriolanus cries out “Hear’st thou, Mars?” and Aufidius responds “Name not the god, thou boy of tears.” This is enough to set Coriolanus off. Enraged that Aufidius called him “boy,” Coriolanus tells the Volscian lords that Aufidius is a lying cur who bears many wounds inflicted by Coriolanus himself.

A Volscian lord tries to speak, but Coriolanus cries out “cut me to pieces!” He’s still furious that he was called “boy,” and so he brags that “like an eagle in a dovecote” he “fluttered” through all the Volscians in Corioles, capturing the city all alone. Aufidius asks if the lords will be convinced by Coriolanus’s “unholy” bragging about the shameful battle in Corioles that he only won by sheer luck.

The Volscian conspirators yell that Coriolanus should be killed, and the Volscian people begin crying out in agreement, shouting that he should be torn into pieces for killing their family members. Another Volscian lord tries to calm them, saying that Coriolanus is noble and deserves a judicious hearing for his latest offence, but Coriolanus draws his sword, saying he wishes that he had six versions of Aufidius or Aufidius’s family members there to kill. Aufidius cries out “insolent villain!” and the conspirators shout “Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!” The conspirators draw weapons and kill “Martius,” who falls to the ground.

Aufidius stands on Coriolanus’s body and addresses the Volscian people. The Volscian lords, meanwhile, lament the bloody deed, asking Aufidius not to stand on the body. Aufidius assures the lords that when they fully understand what a danger Coriolanus was to them they will rejoice that he has been killed. Aufidius offers to explain himself before the senate and continue as a noble servant of the Volscian state.

One Volscian lord says that they should mourn for Coriolanus, whom he calls the most noble corpse ever put into an urn. Another lord says that Coriolanus’s own impatience takes some of the blame of his death away from Aufidius. Aufidius’s rage has now subsided, and he is struck with sorrow. He says that he and three other soldiers will bear the body. Though Coriolanus has made many widows and killed many sons in the city, he will be remembered as noble. Everyone exits, bearing the body of Coriolanus, as a death march plays.