Cymbeline

This is another of Shakespeare’s romantic plays written near the end of his life. Cymbeline, King of Britain, who lost his two sons while they were very young, marries a new wife with an arrogant son, Cloten. Cymbeline’s daughter, Imogen, is expected to marry Cloten, but she disobeys and marries the brave, but poor, Posthumus Leonatus. Cymbeline banishes Posthumus, and the couple exchange gifts to seal their love since they are unable to consummate their marriage. Imogen gives Posthumus a ring and he gives her a bracelet.

Posthumus flees to Rome where he defends his wife’s honor after the villain Iachimo questions her chastity. Iachimo brags that he can seduce Posthumus’ wife easily, so the two make a bet. Iachimo schemes to enter Imogen’s bedroom in a trunk, steals her bracelet and discovers a mole under her breast. He convinces Posthumus that he has slept with her with this knowledge and the bracelet. Posthumus gives his ring to Iachimo and then writes a letter to his servant to kill his unfaithful wife.

Meanwhile, Imogen again spurns Cloten and tells him he isn’t worthy to wear even Posthumus’ shabbiest clothes. The Queen is furious and tries to poison Imogen, but the physician realizing her scheme, makes a potion that merely numbs the senses but doesn’t kill. Imogen dresses like a young boy and goes with the servant to meet Posthumus. Along the way she meets Belarius, a nobleman, who had kidnapped the Cymbeline’s two infant sons, Guiderius and Arviragus, and raised them as his own. Calling herself Fidele, the two men are unaware that she is a girl, let alone their sister.

Cloten realizes that Imogen has fled, so he dresses in Posthumus’ clothes and chases after her. Cloten argues with Guiderius and is killed by him and his brother Arviragus. Imogen has taken the Queen’s poison, thinking it is medicine, and she passes out. The two men hide the decapitated Cloten in the forest and do the same to Imogen when they find her, thinking she is also dead. When Imogen recovers from the poison, she sees the decapitated body and thinks it is her husband, Posthumus.

The Queen goes mad at the disappearance of her son, Cloten, and dies. King Cymbeline then encounters Belarius with the two young men Guiderius and Arviragus, and orders them killed for killing the king’s stepson Cloten. Belarius then reveals the true identity of the boys and they are reunited with their true father, King Cymbeline. Iachimo also confesses to the King Cymbeline how he came upon the ring that belonged to Posthumus. After his confession, Imogen reveals her true identity and Iachimo is horrified. King Cymbeline is overjoyed to be reunited with his daughter as well as his two long-lost sons. At last, Posthumus is discovered and the whole family rejoices together.

Imogen’s chastity and loyalty to her husband, even though he had lost faith in her, is touching. In a world where such loyalty and virtue are rare, it is important to have such positive role models. Chastity and loyalty are essential to a healthy marriage and society. It would do everyone good to meditate on the attitude and actions of Imogen and seek to imitate her virtue.