Sicinius

Play

Coriolanus

Summary

Sicinius Velutus is one of Rome's two tribunes of the people and Coriolanus's chief political antagonist — a shrewd, cynical populist who recognises that Coriolanus's unguarded contempt for the common people makes him an easy target. Working in tandem with his colleague Brutus, Sicinius orchestrates the reversal of Coriolanus's election as consul by inflaming the crowd's anger at the right moment, then presses for the harshest possible punishment: banishment rather than execution (the more politic choice). Shakespeare gives the tribunes real political intelligence, even as Coriolanus and Menenius heap abuse on them as "the tongues o' the common mouth."

Notable Quotations

"What is the city but the people?" *(3.1)*

"He's a disease that must be cut away." *(3.1)*

Cross-references

• Coriolanus — the play
• Tragedies
• character_coriolanus — the aristocrat he banishes from Rome
• character_brutus_coriolanus — his fellow tribune and political partner
• character_menenius — patrician foil who debates him