Coriolanus · Character

Junius Brutus

The tribune who sees Coriolanus's arrogance as a gift, and the people's anger as the lever to break him.

supporting

Also known as Brutus, Brutus Sir, Junius Brutus

First appearance: coriolanus

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Brutus shares the tribuneship with Sicinius and shares his suspicion of Coriolanus's popularity, but his voice is the cooler, more strategic one. He notes how the whole city crowds to see the returning general — nurses, maids, veiled ladies — and concludes that such worship cannot last if the man refuses to ask for it. He and Sicinius work the crowd, frame Coriolanus's contempt as an insult to Rome, and turn a hero's homecoming into a political ambush.

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Character Web

14 connections

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Relationship types

Professional
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Roman political and military figures
Protagonist

+9 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Coriolanus’s banish…

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Relationships

Sicinius Velutus
professional · negative
Caius Marcius Coriolanus
rivalry · negative
Cominius
rivalry · negative
Sicinius Velutus
professional · negative
Caius Marcius Coriolanus
rivalry · negative
Cominius
rivalry · negative
Sicinius Velutus
professional · negative
Cominius
rivalry · negative
Caius Marcius Coriolanus
rivalry · negative

Sicinius Velutus
Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus are fellow tribunes who work closely together to undermine Coriolanus and manipulate the plebeians.
Caius Marcius Coriolanus
Coriolanus despises Junius Brutus as a manipulative tribune who stirs up the common people against him.
Cominius
Cominius and Junius Brutus are political opponents, with Cominius defending the patrician order against the tribunes.
Sicinius Velutus
Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus are fellow tribunes who work closely together to undermine Coriolanus and manipulate the plebeians.
Caius Marcius Coriolanus
Coriolanus despises Junius Brutus as a manipulative tribune who stirs up the common people against him.
Cominius
Cominius and Junius Brutus are political opponents, with Cominius defending the patrician order against the tribunes.
Sicinius Velutus
Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus are fellow tribunes who work closely together to undermine Coriolanus and manipulate the plebeians.
Cominius
Cominius and Junius Brutus are political opponents, with Cominius defending the patrician order against the tribunes.
Caius Marcius Coriolanus
Coriolanus despises Junius Brutus as a manipulative tribune who stirs up the common people against him.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Junius Brutus appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene I
Tribune who joins Sicinius in criticizing Marcius and plotting his political downfall.
Scene II
Comments on Coriolanus's attitude and plans to inform the people of the proceedings.
Scene III
Works with Sicinius to manipulate the citizens, urging them to revoke their election and blame the tribunes.
Scene I
Supports Sicinius in denouncing Coriolanus and inciting the citizens against him.
Scene III
Collaborates with Sicinius to provoke Coriolanus and secure his banishment.
Scene II
Confronted alongside Sicinius; Volumnia accuses him of inciting the rabble against her son.
Scene VI
Brutus joins Sicinius in celebrating the calm, but becomes alarmed by the news of Coriolanus's alliance with Aufidius and the advancing army.
Scene I
Encourages Menenius to test his influence with Coriolanus.

Chapter companion notes

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