# Junius Brutus — Coriolanus character guide

> Junius Brutus in Coriolanus by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Brutus, Brutus Sir, Junius Brutus

**First appearance:** 0000-coriolanus

## Snapshot

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

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Sicinius Velutus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/sicinius_velutus)

_professional_

Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus are fellow tribunes who work closely together to undermine Coriolanus and manipulate the plebeians.

### [Caius Marcius Coriolanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/caius_marcius_coriolanus)

_rivalry_

Coriolanus despises Junius Brutus as a manipulative tribune who stirs up the common people against him.

### [Cominius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/cominius)

_rivalry_

Cominius and Junius Brutus are political opponents, with Cominius defending the patrician order against the tribunes.

### [Sicinius Velutus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/sicinius_velutus)

_professional_

Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus are fellow tribunes who work closely together to undermine Coriolanus and manipulate the plebeians.

### [Caius Marcius Coriolanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/caius_marcius_coriolanus)

_rivalry_

Coriolanus despises Junius Brutus as a manipulative tribune who stirs up the common people against him.

### [Cominius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/cominius)

_rivalry_

Cominius and Junius Brutus are political opponents, with Cominius defending the patrician order against the tribunes.

### [Sicinius Velutus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/sicinius_velutus)

_professional_

Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus are fellow tribunes who work closely together to undermine Coriolanus and manipulate the plebeians.

### [Cominius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/cominius)

_rivalry_

Cominius and Junius Brutus are political opponents, with Cominius defending the patrician order against the tribunes.

### [Caius Marcius Coriolanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/caius_marcius_coriolanus)

_rivalry_

Coriolanus despises Junius Brutus as a manipulative tribune who stirs up the common people against him.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Tribune who joins Sicinius in criticizing Marcius and plotting his political downfall.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Comments on Coriolanus's attitude and plans to inform the people of the proceedings.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Works with Sicinius to manipulate the citizens, urging them to revoke their election and blame the tribunes.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Supports Sicinius in denouncing Coriolanus and inciting the citizens against him.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Collaborates with Sicinius to provoke Coriolanus and secure his banishment.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Confronted alongside Sicinius; Volumnia accuses him of inciting the rabble against her son.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-iv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Encourages Menenius to test his influence with Coriolanus.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters/junius_brutus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/coriolanus_se/characters