Cymbeline: A Review

Cymbeline: A Review

A Shakespearean Romance Wrapped in Mystery and Majesty

(By Javier Guerra)

Among Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays, Cymbeline stands out as a peculiar yet enchanting piece. Written during the later phase of his career, this play resists easy classification—it contains elements of tragedy, comedy, romance, and history. While it is often grouped with Shakespeare’s “romances,” Cymbeline refuses to conform to any one category.

At the heart of the story lies the journey of Imogen, one of Shakespeare’s most admirable heroines, and a web of deceit, mistaken identity, banishment, and reunion. The plot’s winding path keeps audiences on their toes as it explores themes of loyalty, innocence, forgiveness, and the strange turns of fate.

Famous for the line,

“Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages,”
the play blends poetry with powerful emotion, evoking awe and reflection.

The story begins in ancient Britain, ruled by King Cymbeline. His daughter Imogen has secretly married Posthumus Leonatus, a commoner, which infuriates the king. As a result, Posthumus is banished. Meanwhile, Cymbeline’s queen (a scheming stepmother) wants Imogen to marry her oafish son Cloten.

In exile, Posthumus becomes the target of Iachimo, an Italian who wagers that he can seduce the chaste Imogen. When Imogen rebuffs Iachimo, he steals a bracelet from her while she sleeps and convinces Posthumus of her infidelity.

This drives the plot into action, leading to attempted murder, mistaken deaths, cross-dressing, long-lost brothers, war with Rome, and finally—reconciliation. Shakespeare threads all these elements together with wit, suspense, and lyrical grace.

Imogen is often heralded as one of Shakespeare’s most admirable female leads. Her resilience, intelligence, and virtue shine throughout the play. Unlike many passive heroines of the era, Imogen actively navigates her fate.

Disguised as a boy named “Fidele,” she escapes assassination, survives a poison meant to kill her, and wins the love and loyalty of all she meets. She stands tall among Shakespeare’s heroines, much like Rosalind and Viola.

Her presence breathes life into lines such as:

“I see a man’s life is a tedious one,”
she says during her time in the wild, encapsulating the sorrow and endurance that define her character.

Posthumus Leonatus is both admirable and frustrating. His love for Imogen is sincere, but his quick turn to jealousy when deceived by Iachimo reveals the destructive power of wounded pride. Still, his repentance is sincere, and Shakespeare grants him a redemptive arc that makes the audience forgive his rashness.

In a moment of despair and regret, Posthumus cries:

“Hang there like fruit, my soul,
Till the tree die!”
This eloquent anguish showcases his inner torment and the consequences of doubt.

Iachimo, while not as infamous as Iago or Edmund, is still one of Shakespeare’s masterful deceivers. His cunning and manipulation drive the story’s central conflict. The infamous “chest scene,” in which he hides in a trunk in Imogen’s chamber to steal proof of her supposed unfaithfulness, is a testament to both the character’s malevolence and Shakespeare’s dramatic skill.

After his downfall, Iachimo delivers a moving confession:

“The gods throw stones of sulphur on me, if
That box I gave you was not thought by me
A precious thing: I had it from the queen.”
In his shame, we see the shadow of remorse—a subtle nod to Shakespeare’s complex view of villainy.

Cymbeline’s unnamed queen is a classic stepmother figure, channeling Lady Macbeth’s ambition and Goneril’s duplicity. Her son Cloten, meanwhile, is an embodiment of comic arrogance and entitlement. His pursuit of Imogen and eventual death by Guiderius (Imogen’s long-lost brother) provide both tension and dark humor.

Cloten’s pompous declarations often tip into absurdity:

“Hang him: he’ll abuse us.”
His arrogance blinds him, making him a tool of fate and an example of Shakespeare’s flair for tragicomedy.

Like many of Shakespeare’s late romances, Cymbeline deals with themes of innocence wrongly accused, the pain of betrayal, and the ultimate joy of reunion and forgiveness.

The belief in divine justice permeates the play. Even when events spiral into despair, there’s an underlying sense that truth will emerge. This is seen in the final act, where one revelation follows another in a crescendo of clarity and reconciliation.

The famous funeral dirge, sung over Imogen’s (seemingly dead) body, is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring pieces:

“Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages.”
These lines have echoed through literature and music for centuries, capturing the peace of eternal rest.

Cymbeline is rich in lyrical language and poetic flourishes. The dialogue can at times feel dense, almost baroque in its complexity. Unlike the more streamlined prose of Much Ado About Nothing or Julius Caesar, this play indulges in ornate expressions, reflecting its late-Renaissance style.

At the same time, Shakespeare uses structure to create a narrative labyrinth. He juggles multiple storylines: romantic betrayal, political rebellion, familial estrangement, and mistaken identity—before tying them all together in an exuberant final act.

The climax of Cymbeline is famously intricate. Almost every major plot point is resolved in rapid succession. Lost children are restored to their royal parents. Villains confess. Marriages are reunited. Wars end in peace.

Shakespeare leans into the implausibility of it all, yet the emotional payoff is deeply satisfying. The audience is reminded that harmony, though hard-won, is possible.

“Pardon’s the word to all,”
says Cymbeline, as he grants mercy and forgiveness in the final scene. This moment encapsulates the play’s ultimate message: that love and grace can heal even the deepest wounds.

While Cymbeline may not enjoy the spotlight like Hamlet or Macbeth, it is a treasure trove of dramatic brilliance. It contains some of the Bard’s most poignant poetry, a heroine who rivals the best in his repertoire, and a narrative that weaves suspense, romance, and redemption into one enchanting tapestry.

For modern audiences, Cymbeline offers both a challenge and a reward. Its plot may be convoluted, but its emotional core is timeless. Whether on stage or page, this play urges us to trust in truth, forgive with humility, and recognize the beauty of life’s full circle.

“The game is up.”
With these words, Shakespeare closes not just a scene but a chapter of transformation, leaving us with the hope that, despite life’s twists and trials, all may yet be well.

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