Characters Discussed
Cymbeline
Cymbeline (SIHM-beh-leen), the king of Britain. On the whole, he is more a conventional figure made to help the plot than a complex human being. Quick-tempered, arbitrary, and unreasonable, he is naturally well-meaning and generous. His second wife influences him far more than he realizes. His forgiveness of his enemies and his son-in-law at the end of the play is an example of his essential goodness.
Imogen
Imogen (IHM-oh-jehn), Cymbeline’s daughter by his former queen; she is disguised for part of the play as Fidele (fih-DAYL), a boy. She is the most admired character in the play, and many critics believe it has small excuse for being except as a vehicle for her. She is a faithful wife, independent and courageous. She escapes her father’s court, her husband’s plot to have her murdered, her wicked stepbrother’s attempt to violate her, and her evil stepmother’s plot to poison her. Disguised as a boy, she finds her unknown brothers in the forest. She forgives her husband for his lack of trust.
Posthumus Leonatus
Posthumus Leonatus (POS-tew-muhs lee-oh-NAY-tuhs), Imogen’s husband, a gentleman of good lineage but poor fortune; he is unacceptable to Cymbeline as a son-in-law. Banished for marrying Imogen, he goes to Italy. There, carried away while praising his wife, he makes an unwise wager with the evil Iachimo that his wife’s chastity will withstand any temptation. She lives up to his faith, but Iachimo presents such strong circumstantial evidence that she has been unfaithful that Posthumus sends orders to his servant to kill her. He receives undeserved forgiveness from her and is reunited with her.
Cloten
Cloten (KLOH-tehn), the queen’s repulsive son. Ignorant and stupid as well as vicious, he clothes himself in Leonatus’ garments and follows Imogen, intending to violate her. He meets and threatens Guiderius, who promptly chops off his head. Finding his headless corpse in the familiar garments, Imogen thinks that her husband is dead.
The queen
The queen, the second wife of Cymbeline, whom she deceives and manages. The typical stepmother of folktales, she endeavors to destroy Imogen with a supposed restorative that she has poisoned. She is largely responsible for the strife between Rome and England. She dies before her villainies are discovered, but they are exposed after her death.
Iachimo
Iachimo (YAH-kih-moh), an Italian villain. Irritated by Posthumus’ praise of Imogen, he wagers that he can seduce her. After he fails in his attempt, he hides in a trunk that is conveyed into her room, observes her sleeping, steals a bracelet from her, and memorizes her bedroom furnishings. With this circumstantial evidence and sworn lies, he deceives Posthumus. He becomes remorseful, and when captured by Cymbeline’s forces and questioned by Fidele/Imogen, he confesses all, repents, and is included in the general forgiveness.
Belarius
Belarius (beh-LAY-ree-uhs), a banished lord, disguised as Morgan. Having been unjustly accused of treason, he has kidnapped the sons of Cymbeline and has reared them in a Welsh forest as his own sons. When Rome sends forces against England, he and the two youths come to the aid of the English forces. He discloses the identity of the young men to Cymbeline and receives forgiveness in the general rejoicing.
Guiderius
Guiderius (gwih-DEE -ree-uhs), who is living in the forest as Polydore but is the elder son of Cymbeline. Although rough and untutored, he has a bold and royal nature. After his heroic deeds in the battle, he confesses to Cymbeline that he has killed Cloten and that he would be delighted to do so...
(This entire section contains 906 words.)
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again if Cloten were still alive. He is condemned to death by Cymbeline but is pardoned when his true identity is revealed.
Arviragus
Arviragus (ahr-vih-RAY-guhs), who is living in the forest as Cadwal but is the younger son of Cymbeline. He and his brother welcome the homeless Fidele as a brother and grieve deeply at his supposed death. They rejoice when they learn that their supposed brother is actually their sister and that her apparent death was only a drugged sleep.
Caius Lucius
Caius Lucius (KAY-yuhs LEW-shee-uhs), a general of the Roman forces. He finds Fidele mourning over the body of the supposed Posthumus and offers his protection as a father rather than as a master. After the battle, he is spared by Cymbeline’s generosity.
Pisanio
Pisanio (pee-ZAH-nee-oh), Posthumus’ loyal, intelligent servant. He disobeys his master’s command to kill Imogen and falsely reports her death, but both disobedience and falsehood are higher-level loyalty than literal obedience would have been. He confuses Cloten with false information, which happily leads to the violent death of the villainous prince. He gives the queen’s drug to Imogen, thinking it a restorative.
Cornelius
Cornelius (kohr-NEE-lee-uhs), a physician. Mistrusting the queen, he gives her not the poison she asks for but a harmless drug that gives a temporary appearance of death. The drug deceives Belarius and the brothers into thinking Fidele dead. At the play’s end, Cornelius exposes the queen’s evil plot to Cymbeline.
Philario
Philario (fih-LAH-ree-oh), an Italian friend of Posthumus. He introduces Posthumus to Iachimo, thereby making the wager plot possible.
Helen
Helen, a lady attending Imogen.
Sicilius Leonatus
Sicilius Leonatus (sih-SIHL-ee-uhs lee-oh-NAY-tuhs), the father of Posthumus. His ghost, along with those of his wife and two dead sons, appears in the masquelike vision of Posthumus in prison.
Jupiter
Jupiter, who also appears in the vision and promises a happy outcome for Posthumus.
