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Imogen
Cymbeline’s daughter, the British princess. Wise, beautiful, and resourceful, she incurs her father’s displeasure when she chooses to marry Posthumus instead of Cymbeline’s oafish stepson, Cloten.
Read an in-depth analysis of Imogen.
Posthumus
An orphaned gentleman, he is adopted and raised by Cymbeline, and he marries Imogen in secret, against her father’s will. He is deeply in love with her but nevertheless willing to think the worst of her when she is accused of infidelity.
Read an in-depth analysis of Posthumus.
Cymbeline
The king of Britain and Imogen’s father. A gracious though occasionally stumbling monarch, he is led astray by the machinations of his wicked Queen.
Queen
Cymbeline’s wife and Imogen’s stepmother. A villainous woman, she will stop at nothing—including murder—to see her son Cloten married to Imogen and, thus, made heir to the British throne.
Read an in-depth analysis of the Queen.
Cloten
The Queen’s son, who was betrothed to Imogen before her secret wedding to Posthumus. Her unwillingness to marry him is understandable, since he is an arrogant, clumsy fool.
Iachimo
A clever and dishonest Italian gentleman. He makes a wager with Posthumus that he can seduce Imogen, and when his attempt at seduction fails, he resorts to trickery to make Posthumus believe that he has succeeded.
Read an in-depth analysis of Iachimo.
Pisanio
Posthumus’s loyal servant. He is left behind in Britain when his master goes into exile, and he acts as a servant to Imogen and the Queen.
Belarius
A British nobleman, unjustly banished by Cymbeline. He kidnapped Cymbeline’s infant sons to revenge himself on the king, and, under the name of Morgan, he has raised them as his own sons in the Welsh wilderness.
Read an in-depth analysis of Belarius.
Guiderius
Cymbeline’s eldest son and Imogen’s brother, he was kidnapped and raised by Belarius under the name of Polydore.
Arviragus
Cymbeline’s younger son and Imogen’s brother, he was kidnapped and raised by Belarius under the name of Cadwal.
Philario
An Italian gentleman. Posthumus stays at his home during his exile from Britain.
Caius Lucius
The Roman ambassador to Britain and, later, the general of the Roman invasion force.
Cornelius
A doctor at the court of Cymbeline.
Soothsayer
A seer in the service of Caius Lucius.
Jupiter
The thunder-god and king of Olympus in Roman myth.
