scapegoat

Act 4.6.81-85
It’s interesting to notice that there always has to be a "scapegoat" when there are problems. The people are hungry, restless, starving, and upset. Brutus and Sicinius play on their emotions and attitudes (through manipulation and deceit) to place the blame on Coriolanus- the first scapegoat. There are also multiple problems within the politics of Rome, which is currently unstable at best. The class divisions and tensions and where to put the power weakens Rome and makes it vulnerable for attack. As the Roman told the Volse (Act 4.3.29-31) "…the fittest time to corrupt a man’s wife is when she’s fall’n out with her husband." However once news arrives that Coriolanus and Aufidius are going to attack the city, the blame quickly gets turned against Sicinius and Brutus. This just shows that when problems occur no one wants to blame themselves and will seek out scapegoats to place their aggression. However, this most likely will just weaken Rome because the real problems will not be solved. Problems are diverted by trying to find a "common enemy" so that the internal problems are not aroused. This still takes place today on both sides of the fence- President Bush went to war against Iraq (scapegoat) and then the American’s blame of Bush (scapegoat) for the war. Everyone finds someone to blame for something instead of addressing the real problems.