Cymbeline

Cymbeline is a play made in the Renaissance era and written by William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564, in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England.  The author most likely has been the most influential writer in his era, especially noting that most of his plays have been required in American schools to study. Cymbeline is one of Shakespeare’s final plays, along with The Tempest and The Winter’s Tale. Its plot has a striking resemblance to many of the early plays of his day. This theatrical work is mainly about the struggles of Imogen and her husband, Posthumus. It depicts of forgiveness and death, which was always ever-present in stories.

At the beginning of the play, Imogen, the daughter of the British king, Cymbeline, goes against her father’s wishes of marrying a noble man. She instead marries a lowborn gentleman named Posthumus, rather than his stepson, Cloten. Because of this marriage, the king sends Posthumus to exile in Italy, where the prisoner meets a smooth-tongued Italian named Iachimo.

Iachimo argues that all women are unfaithful and wagers with Posthumus that he will be able to seduce Imogen. Having failed to do so, he resolves to trickery and “proves” to Posthumus that he indeed slept with Imogen. He backed his words by describing Imogen’s room and giving the bracelet Posthumus presented to her. Things start going upside down and Posthumus orders Pisanio, his servant, to murder his wife for her unfaithfulness. Not only that, but Cloten also has been pursuing her. Pisiano, out of pity, instructs Imogen to dress as a man and escape while he tells Posthumus that he killed her. Despite of the tragic happenings, the play ends with a happy ending. The villains die and the main characters live.