Cymbeline Monologues & Audition Scenes

Characters: Imogen

Imogen, disguised as a boy and exhausted from her journey through the Welsh mountains, reflects on her weariness and the betrayal of her husband before discovering a cave.

Characters: Imogen

Imogen, having discovered that her husband Posthumus believes she has been unfaithful and has ordered her death, confronts Pisanio and offers her chest to the blade, lamenting the betrayal and the false letters she once cherished.

Characters: POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, First Gaoler

Posthumus Leonatus, awaiting execution in prison, engages in a philosophical and darkly comedic exchange with his gaoler about the nature of death and the afterlife.

Characters: Posthumus Leonatus

Posthumus Leonatus, wracked with guilt over ordering the death of his wife Imogen, contemplates the nature of divine justice and resolves to fight for Britain in disguise to seek redemption through death.

Characters: IACHIMO

Iachimo confesses his villainous plot to King Cymbeline, explaining how he tricked Posthumus Leonatus into believing his wife Imogen was unfaithful through a series of fabricated proofs and stolen tokens.

Characters: IMOGEN, PISANIO

Imogen questions her servant Pisanio about her husband Posthumus's departure into exile. She expresses her deep grief and regret that their farewell was interrupted by her father, the King.

Characters: IACHIMO, POSTHUMUS LEONATUS

In Rome, the cynical Iachimo challenges Posthumus Leonatus regarding the fidelity and virtue of his wife, Imogen. The two men engage in a tense debate comparing the value of a precious ring to the steadfastness of a woman's honor.

Characters: Imogen, Iachimo

Iachimo attempts to seduce Imogen by convincing her that her husband, Posthumus, has been unfaithful to her in Italy. He uses vivid, repulsive imagery to describe Posthumus's supposed debauchery to provoke Imogen into a vengeful affair with him.

Characters: Cloten

Cloten, dressed in Posthumus's clothes, arrives near the cave in Wales. He boasts of his own physical superiority over Posthumus and details his violent plan to kill his rival and ravish Imogen.

Characters: POSTHUMUS LEONATUS, IACHIMO

Iachimo attempts to convince Posthumus that he has successfully seduced Posthumus's wife, Imogen, by providing detailed descriptions of her private bedchamber. Posthumus remains skeptical, suggesting the details could have been learned through hearsay.

Characters: IACHIMO

Iachimo emerges from a trunk in Imogen's bedchamber while she sleeps. He stealthily observes the room and her body, stealing her bracelet and noting a mole on her breast to falsely prove he has seduced her.

Characters: CLOTEN, IMOGEN

Imogen confronts the arrogant Cloten, who is attempting to woo her despite her marriage to Posthumus. She sharply rejects his advances, defending her husband's character while insulting Cloten's lack of virtue.

Characters: Posthumus Leonatus

Posthumus Leonatus, believing his wife Imogen has been unfaithful based on false evidence from Iachimo, delivers a vitriolic soliloquy against women, attributing all human vices to 'the woman's part'.

Characters: CLOTEN, PISANIO

Cloten, the arrogant son of the Queen, interrogates Pisanio about the whereabouts of Posthumus and Imogen. After bribing Pisanio for his loyalty, Cloten reveals his dark plan to murder Posthumus and assault Imogen while wearing her husband's clothes.

Characters: Pisanio, Imogen

Imogen discovers that her husband Posthumus believes she has been unfaithful and has ordered his servant Pisanio to kill her. Heartbroken, she begs Pisanio to carry out the deed, while he refuses to harm her.

Characters: Posthumus Leonatus

Posthumus awakens in prison after a vision of his deceased family and the god Jupiter. He discovers a prophetic tablet left on his chest and reflects on the cryptic nature of the message and his own tragic circumstances.