Posthumus

Play

Cymbeline

Summary

A gentleman of excellent breeding but no title who has secretly married the princess Imogen. Exiled by Cymbeline, he falls into a foolish wager with the Italian Iachimo over Imogen's chastity, is deceived by Iachimo's false evidence, and in a rage orders Imogen's murder. His penitence and eventual reunion with Imogen are the play's central arc of forgiveness, though his earlier credulity and violence make him a troubling romantic hero.

Notable Quotations

"Hang there like fruit, my soul, / Till the tree die!" *(V.v)*

"Is there no way for men to be, but women / Must be half-workers?" *(II.v)*

Cross-references

• Cymbeline — the play
• Romances (Late Plays)
• character_imogen — his wife whom he nearly destroys
• character_iachimo — who deceives him with false evidence
• character_pisanio — his loyal servant who protects Imogen