The story in one page
King Cymbeline banishes his daughter’s husband, Posthumus, intending for her to marry his stepson, Cloten. In Rome, Posthumus bets a scoundrel named Iachimo that Imogen is incorruptible. Iachimo fails the seduction but sneaks into her room inside a chest, noting a mole on her breast to manufacture proof of adultery. Posthumus orders his servant Pisanio to kill Imogen; instead, Pisanio helps her flee to Wales disguised as a boy. She takes shelter in a cave with three strangers who are actually her long-lost brothers and their kidnapper-turned-guardian. After a chaotic Roman invasion and several cases of mistaken identity, the family reconciles and the villains are exposed.
Who's who
- Cymbeline
The King of Britain who struggles with Roman taxes and family drama.
- Imogen
The King's daughter who survives a death sentence by dressing as a boy.
- Posthumus Leonatus
An exiled husband who unwisely gambles on his wife's sexual fidelity.
- Iachimo
An Italian manipulator who hides in a trunk to win a bet.
- Belarius
A banished lord who kidnapped the King's sons as an act of revenge.
What it's really about
- Reputation
- Betting on virtue leads to near-fatal misunderstandings.
- Identity
- Disguise and kidnapping separate royals from their true status.
Why it's memorable
- Iachimo emerging from a trunk at night to map Imogen's bedroom while she sleeps.
- Imogen waking up next to the headless body of a man wearing her husband's clothes.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Cymbeline discovers his long-lost sons, learns the wicked Queen has died, and despite winning the battle, decides to pay tribute to Rome anyway to ensure peace.
For your book club
- The practicality of shipping oneself across international borders inside a wooden jewelry chest.
- The strategic decision to pay a tribute to Rome immediately after defeating them in battle.