Coriolanus, Act 4 Scene 7 — Summary & Analysis

What happens

Aufidius and his Lieutenant discuss Coriolanus's growing power and popularity among the Volscian soldiers. The Lieutenant expresses concern that Coriolanus has become too proud and influential, overshadowing Aufidius himself. Aufidius acknowledges the problem but claims he cannot prevent it without ruining their military plans. He reveals his true intention: to use Coriolanus's eventual fall to restore his own fortune, suggesting he has already prepared accusations for when they settle their final accounts.

Why it matters

This scene exposes the fragility of Aufidius and Coriolanus's alliance. Despite embracing Coriolanus and promising him equal partnership, Aufidius immediately feels threatened by his companion's magnetic appeal to the troops. The Lieutenant's observation—that soldiers treat Coriolanus 'as the grace 'fore meat' and speak of him constantly—reveals that Aufidius has lost control of his own army. What began as a union of equals has become a subordination, with Aufidius reduced to a figurehead while Coriolanus commands actual loyalty. This dynamic mirrors Coriolanus's relationship with Rome: he cannot help but dominate and overshadow those around him, making genuine partnership impossible.

Aufidius's aside reveals the cold calculation beneath his apparent warmth. He has not genuinely accepted Coriolanus; he has been waiting for the moment to exploit him. By allowing Coriolanus to make decisions and win the soldiers' hearts, Aufidius gathers evidence of disloyalty and overreach. His phrase—'when he shall come to his account, he knows not / What I can urge against him'—signals that Coriolanus has already sealed his fate. The scene foreshadows the conspiracy in Act 5, showing that Aufidius's patience is strategic, not generous. Coriolanus's fatal flaw—his inability to read people and situations—will leave him vulnerable to this carefully laid trap.