Cymbeline

Cymbeline is a play by William Shakespeare. Its first recorded performance was in 1611, and it was published in the First Folio in 1623. Some scholars have posited that sections may have been written collaboratively. The play is loosely inspired by accounts of the historical British king Cunobeline, but also draws on other sources. It has never been considered a history play, reflecting the looseness of this connection.

Cymbeline is king of ancient Britain. His sons were kidnapped as babies, and he is under the corrupting influence of his wicked second wife, the Queen, and oafish stepson Cloten. Cymbeline’s daughter, Imogen, has married Posthumus against his wishes, so he banishes Posthumus. Iachimo tricks Posthumus into believing he has seduced her. Posthumus resolves to kill Imogen. Meanwhile, the Roman army invades because Cymbeline has stopped paying tribute to the Empire. Through a series of disguises and machinations, everyone learns the truth, and Cymbeline’s lost children return to him. The Roman army is defeated, but with the Queen dead, Cymbeline decides to continue paying tribute out of a sense of honor.

Cymbeline has been consistently performed since its first publication, enjoying popularity during the 18th century and drawing some criticism during the 20th century because of its complex plot. It has often attracted rewrites or heavy editing of the original script, such as George Bernard Shaw’s Cymbeline Revisited in 1937, or the Globe’s 2016 production, named Imogen after the central heroine. 

This guide is based on the 2000 reprint of the Arden Shakespeare edition, edited by J.M. Nosworthy.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide include mentions of death, violence, war, sexism, and sexual violence.

Plot Summary

Cymbeline is king of the Britons. His two sons were kidnapped as babies. His daughter Imogen has married Posthumus without his permission, angering him. Posthumus’s family members were brave warriors who died when he was young, but he is not of royal blood. Cymbeline’s second wife, the Queen, and her oafish son Cloten, are both pushing for Imogen to marry Cloten.

Cymbeline banishes Posthumus and imprisons Imogen. They swap tokens before they part, exchanging a ring and a bracelet. Posthumus goes to Rome, where he is drawn into a competition over women’s virtue. He boasts about Imogen. Iachimo wagers that he could seduce Imogen. They agree that if Iachimo can prove he has seduced her, he will win the ring she gave to Posthumus; if not, Posthumus will fight him in a duel.

Back in Britain, the Queen asks her doctor, Cornelius, for some poison, saying she wants it to study antidotes. He doesn’t trust her and gives her a sleeping draught instead. Later, she gives the drug to Posthumus’s faithful servant Pisanio, telling him it is healing medicine. She hopes Pisanio takes it and dies, isolating Imogen further. If Imogen does not cooperate and marry Cloten, the Queen plans to kill her.

Iachimo arrives at court. Imogen rejects his advances, even when he claims Posthumus was unfaithful. He convinces her that he was testing her in his capacity as Posthumus’s friend. He asks her to store a large chest in her room overnight; she agrees. At night, he climbs out while she sleeps. He notes details about her bedchamber and her body and also manages to take Posthumus’s bracelet off her arm. Back in Rome, Iachimo successfully convinces Posthumus that he has seduced Imogen. Posthumus is distraught, vowing revenge upon her.

In Britain, Cloten crudely tries to woo Imogen, with Cymbeline and the Queen’s encouragement. When she rebuffs him soundly, he insults Posthumus, causing her to claim that even Posthumus’s clothes are better than him.

Meanwhile, a political situation is developing: Cymbeline has stopped paying the Roman Empire an annual tribute, as agreed after Caesar’s conquest many years ago. Lucius, a Roman general but a friend to Cymbeline, arrives to discuss the situation. The Queen and Cloten argue vehemently that Britain should not pay, and Cymbeline agrees, adding his own arguments. He and Lucius acknowledge that this means certain war; Cymbeline allows him safe passage to bring the news to Rome.

Pisanio is horrified to receive a letter from Posthumus instructing him to take Imogen out of court under the guise of reuniting and then murder her. He gives her Posthumus’s letter asking to meet, but he resolves not to kill her. Pisanio helps Imogen escape and reveals Posthumus’s true intentions. She is distraught but does not want to return to court. Pisanio advises her to disguise herself as a pageboy and try to get employment with Lucius, who may take her to Rome, where Posthumus is, so she can better understand the situation. He gives her Cornelius’s drug, telling her it is medicine she should use if she needs strength.

Back at court, Cymbeline is concerned about martial preparations and angry about Imogen’s absence. Cloten intercepts Pisanio and makes him reveal where Imogen has gone: Pisanio hopes she is now far away. Cloten decides to dress as Posthumus and find the lovers. He plans to kill Posthumus and rape Imogen.

In the mountains, Imogen, disguised as “Fidele” the pageboy, finds a cave inhabited by who is apparently an older man and his sons, who have a strikingly noble air. Unknown to them, the younger two are actually her lost brothers, Guiderius and Arviragus. The older man, Belarius, was a loyal soldier who served Cymbeline well, but Cymbeline was corrupted by lies into believing him a traitor and banished him. Belarius took his sons in revenge, raising them in the mountains. Imogen and her brothers instinctively warm to each other, and they welcome her to stay with them.

Later, Imogen decides to rest in the cave and take the drugs. Outside, Cloten arrives. He is threatening and disrespectful to Guiderius, who beheads him in a fight. The brothers are then devastated to find that “Fidele” has apparently died. They lay the bodies together to perform burial rites, before leaving. Imogen wakes from a vivid dream and finds a headless corpse wearing Posthumus’s clothes. Assuming it is her husband, she weeps for him. The Roman forces find her on their way to fight Cymbeline. Lucius is impressed by her loyalty to the corpse, whom she pretends was her master. He invites “Fidele” to be his page.

As the armies draw near, Cymbeline laments his problems: His wife is dangerously sick and his daughter and stepson both seem to have vanished. Meanwhile, Belarius attempts to dissuade Guiderius and Arviragus from fighting for the British. When they are resolute, he agrees to join them, knowing he risks discovery and execution.

Posthumus is in the Roman camp, as he was drafted while living in Italy. He is wracked with guilt, believing he has murdered Imogen, as Pisanio has lied about obeying his orders. He swaps into the clothes of a British peasant, resolving to fight for Imogen’s country. Together with Belarius, Guiderius, and Arviragus, Posthumus’s bravery and ferocity are instrumental in winning the battle and saving Cymbeline himself. He defeats Iachimo but lets him live. Afterward, he returns to his Roman clothes and allows the British to arrest him, seeking punishment for his actions. As he sleeps, he is visited by his family’s ghosts and by Jupiter, who leaves a prophecy saying he will have a good fate once the limbs of a cedar rejoin its trunk.

After the battle, Cymbeline praises the four mysterious figures who saved the day and wishes to reward them. The Roman prisoners, including “Fidele,” Iachimo, and Posthumus, are brought before him. Imogen sees Posthumus’s ring on Iachimo’s finger, prompting Iachimo to confess his trickery. Posthumus and Imogen both reveal their true identities and are reunited. Cornelius says that the Queen is dead and reveals the machinations she confessed to on her deathbed. Pisanio reveals Cloten’s wicked plans, and Guiderius confesses to killing him. Belarius then reveals the true identity of himself and his apparent sons.

The prophecy is fulfilled as Cymbeline’s children are reunited with him and each other. No longer heir, Imogen is free to marry Posthumus. Cymbeline is overjoyed to find them all. He resolves to spare all the Roman prisoners and to pay the tribute after all as a matter of honor.