"Cymbeline" is one of the great comedy plays by William Shakespeare and one of his later ones.
Near the end of his career, William Shakespeare wrote a group of beautiful and confounding plays that did not easily fit into any of his previously chosen genres, or categories of literature. These plays are neither tragedies nor comedies, though they contain elements of both at times. They also often feature exotic locations, elaborate special effects, and magic. Shakespearean critics have classified this group as Shakespeare's romances. One of these romances is "Cymbeline", first performed around 1611.
Gullible Cymbeline, King of Britain, takes a new wife who has an arrogant son called Cloten. Cymbeline's beautiful daughter Imogen is expected to marry Cloten. Instead Imogen marries the brave, but poor Posthumus Leonatus. Cymbeline is furious when he finds out about the marriage and banishes Posthumus who goes to Rome. The couple have time to exchange love tokens and Imogen gives Posthumus a diamond ring and he gives her a bracelet. The villain of the plot is Iachimo who bets 10,000 ducats against Posthumus's diamond ring that he can seduce Imogen. Various plot lines ensue involving deceit, cross-dressing, poison and treachery. The story has a happy ending when Iachimo confesses and Imogen reveals her true identity and is reunited with Posthumus.
