Cymbeline
by
William Shakespeare
Story of Cymbeline
Story
of Cymbeline
Cymbeline,
King of Britain, has a daughter named Imogen, his only child and heir. He wants
her to marry Cloten, the foolish and arrogant son of his second wife (the
Queen), but Imogen has secretly married Posthumus Leonatus, a brave but poor
nobleman. Enraged, Cymbeline banishes Posthumus, who flees to Italy.
In
Italy, Posthumus is tricked by a scheming Italian named Iachimo, who bets that
he can seduce Imogen. Iachimo travels to Britain, fails to seduce her, but
manages to sneak into her room and steal her bracelet. He then returns to
Posthumus with this "proof" of her unfaithfulness. Believing the lie,
Posthumus angrily orders his servant to kill Imogen.
Warned
in time, Imogen escapes and disguises herself as a boy named
"Fidele." She wanders into the wilderness, where she meets Belarius,
a banished nobleman who is raising Cymbeline’s two long-lost sons (Guiderius
and Arviragus) as his own in a cave, though neither they nor Imogen know of
their true identities.
Meanwhile,
Cloten tries to pursue Imogen. He dresses in Posthumus’s clothes to trick and
disgrace her, but he is killed in a fight by Guiderius. Imogen, still in
disguise, finds Cloten’s headless body wearing her husband’s clothes and
believes Posthumus is dead.
Eventually,
everyone ends up back at Cymbeline’s court. Identities are revealed,
misunderstandings are cleared, and the truth about Imogen’s faithfulness comes
out. Posthumus and Imogen are reunited. The Queen dies, her evil plans exposed,
and Cymbeline welcomes back his long-lost sons and forgives Posthumus.
Britain
also defeats the Roman army (to whom Cymbeline had earlier refused tribute),
and peace is restored.
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