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Though a minor character, Iachimo plays a major role as the key instigator of the romantic conflict between Imogen and Posthumus. Iachimo is a silver-tongued Italian trickster who, upon first meeting Posthumus, entices him into wagering a bet on Imogen’s chastity. He has heard Posthumus wax poetic on her impervious virtue, and in his hubris, he believes he has the suaveness to, in his vulgar phrasing, pick the “lock” and take “the treasure of her honor” (2.2.45–46). It’s notable that Iachimo must work hard to convince Posthumus to take him up on his wager. In this, he reminds the audience of Iago, the smooth-talking villain of Othello, who worms his way in the mind of that play’s hero and, cultivating his jealousy, leads him to kill his wife, the innocent Desdemona. Iachimo similarly manages to convince Posthumus of his wife’s infidelity, which leads him to order Imogen’s murder. However, because Cymbeline is less of an outright tragedy, the murder never occurs—a fact that will ultimately allow for the lovers’ reunion and reconciliation. Iachimo, meanwhile, drops out of the play after serving his villainous purpose, only to return briefly in the final scene to confess his crimes and once again withdraw into the background.
