’Cymbeline’, the drama is very long.Yet it is easy to read filled as it is with myriad twists in turns.It is almost like a fairy tale except that it is not one.It is in fact a play full of history and politics.Not very tragic it is not funny either.We look at a Briton king who is under the influence of a wicked, evil wife.This queen creates a rift between the king and his daughter.Her son is a comical character who talks about the shape of Julius Caesar’s nose.The Roman empire is at its peak and virtually rules the western world.The theme of revenge and betrayal is also touched upon.The story is not heavy which is a relief really.
The story then.Cymbeline is king of Britain.His queen wants her step-daughter Imogen to marry her step-brother Cloten.Cloten is pompous to use a mild expression.Imogen marries Posthumus Leonatus.When Cymbeline hears about the wedding Posthumus is banished.He goes to Italy where he stays with Philario.Iachimo, a lothario bets Posthamus that he can bring back from Imogen a gift from Posthumus.When he achieves this by complicity Posthumus asks his page to kill his errant wife.Imogen is taken to Wales and informed about about her impending murder.A pact is made due to which she takes on a disguise.Meanwhile Belarius appears on the scene with long-lost sons of Cymbeline. Cymbeline is asked to pay tribute to the Romans but he refuses.There is a bloody battle with Rome which Britain wins with help from Posthumus and Cymbeline’s estranged sons.Everyone is forgiven and happy in conclusion.