Guide Note

Cymbeline is a classic play by William Shakespeare based on the legend of the historic pre-Roman British King Cunobelinus.

Fast Facts

1. Writer: William Shakespeare
2. Setting: 1st century A.D., England
3. Written: 1609
4. Simultaneously categorized as comedy, tragedy, history, and romance
5. Best described as a "tragi-comedy"
6. First performance: January 1, 1634 at Court

Posthumus, a man of low birth but exceeding personal merit, secretly marries his childhood friend Imogen, daughter of King Cymbeline. Upon finding out, Cymbeline banishes Posthumus from the kingdom. In Rome, Posthumus befriends Iachimo, a soldier in the Roman army, and accepts a wager against Imogen's virtue. Iachimo travels to Britain and spies on Imogen while she sleeps. Back in Rome he uses his observations of intimate details of Imogen's room and body to prove that she had committed adultery. Engraged Posthumus sends word to his loyal servant back in Britain, Pisanio, to kill Imogen. Instead, Pisanio warns Imoge and advises her to disguise herself and serve as a page to Caius Lucius, a Roman ambassador. Lucius has arrived in Britain to collect tribute from King Cymbeline but is sighted and sets off to prepare for a war against England. While disguised, Imogen wanders the Welsh countryside and happens across Belarius, a wrongly accused former member of the court, who has kidnapped and raised Imogen's two brother's and rightful heirs to the throne. Meanwhile, Lucius advances for battle with England and takes the disguised Imogen as his page. After a fierce battle in which the British eventually route the Romans with the help of Imogen's brothers and Posthumus a court is held between Cymbeline and his Roman prisoners. During the final scene all of the story's various plot lines intersect and are resolved.

1. Cymbeline: King of Britain
2. Imogen: Daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen
3. Posthumus: a Gentleman, Husband to Imogen
4. Iachimo: Friend to Philario

• "The game is up." (3.3)

• "I have not slept one wink." (3.3)

• "Some griefs are medicinable." (3.2)

• "I thought her as chaste as unsunned snow." (2.5)