Coriolanus, Act 1 Scene 2 — Summary & Analysis

What happens

In the Volscian Senate house at Corioli, senators and Aufidius receive intelligence that Rome has learned of their military plans and is mobilizing forces. Aufidius reads a letter confirming that Cominius, Marcius, and Titus Lartius lead the Roman army toward them. The senators authorize Aufidius to take command of their forces. Aufidius vows that if he and Marcius meet in combat, one of them will not survive—he has fought the Roman five times already and never prevailed.

Why it matters

This scene establishes the Volscian perspective and reveals Aufidius as a man consumed by rivalry with Coriolanus. The intelligence about Rome's mobilization forces the Volscians to act openly rather than by surprise, but Aufidius shows no hesitation—instead, he seizes the moment to pursue his personal vendetta. His obsession with defeating Marcius becomes the emotional center of the scene, overshadowing any practical military discussion. The senators grant him authority almost without question, suggesting his reputation as a warrior commands respect. Aufidius's vow—'Five times, Marcius, I have fought with thee'—establishes him not as a strategic general but as a man defined by his enmity with one opponent.

The scene mirrors and contrasts with Act 1, Scene 1's Roman assembly. Where Rome was torn by internal conflict between classes, the Volscian state appears unified, with nobles and general working in concert. Yet this unity is superficial; Aufidius's focus on personal combat rather than strategic advantage hints at the weakness that will eventually prove fatal. His statement—'I'll potch at him some way / Or wrath or craft may get him'—reveals a man willing to abandon honor for victory, a stark contrast to Coriolanus's later claim to integrity. This scene plants the seed for Act 5's betrayal: Aufidius's ambition and envy will ultimately matter more than military alliance.