King Cymbeline banishes Posthumous after he
finds out that
the man secretly married his daughter, Imogen. Cymbeline
has married a new wife who is a wicked
woman and deeply
jealous of Cymbeline’s daughter from a previous marriage,
Imogen. His wife plots to have Imogen marry her son Cloten,
the stupid child of her first marriage, so that she could
secure the throne of Cymbeline after he is dead.
When Posthumous arrives in Rome after his banishment, he is
boasting of his
virtuous wife, Imogen. Iachimo, an evil and
jealous man, finds Posthumous’ declarations ridiculous and
boasts that he could make a cuckold of Posthumous and his
virtuous wife is no more virtuous than any other woman.
Posthumous declares this ridiculous and offers to bet him
that he could not possibly seduce such a noble woman as
Imogen.
When Iachimo arrives in Britain, he finds Imogen as
virtuous and true as Posthumous declared her to be.
However, this does not stop him from finding another way to
win his bet. Iachimo hides in a chest and sees Imogen naked
in order to mention knowledge of an intimate scar to
Posthumous; he also steals some of her clothing thus
securing “proof” of Imogen’s infidelity.
Posthumous, humiliated by the supposed proof of his wife’s
perfidy, orders her death. The assassin takes pity on
Imogen and tells her of Posthumous’ intent to murder her
and Iachimo’s treachery. Imogen, distraught, dressed like a
boy, continues into the mountains of Wales leaving the
court behind. Imogen encounters two brothers in the forest
who help her recover from a dreadful illness. They find an
odd kinship, which is actually because she has found two
lost sons of Cymbeline and they are actually her brothers.
Cloten, Imogen’s stepmother’s stupid son, has followed her
into the forest and is killed by one of the lost sons in a
dispute. When Imogen discovers the beheaded body she thinks
it is Posthumous and now believes he is dead.
War soon breaks out between Rome and Britain. Posthumous
fights bravely and is victorious, and the lost sons of
Cymbeline with Imogen in tow, come and fight in the city
and release their father from prison. Finally the family
are reunited, the wicked stepmother is found dead, and
Imogen is reunited with her Posthumous who has finally
heard of Iachimo’s treachery. All ends well after such
confusion.