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Cymbeline

By William Shakespeare - Stage play

Stage playStageACT I, Scene 4

Roles

  • Posthumus
  • Iachimo
  • Philario
  • Frenchman

About this piece

Iachimo bets Posthumus that he will be able to seduce his wife Imogen

Summary

Cymbeline is Britain's king. His daughter Imogen was supposed to marry Cymbeline's new Queen's son, Cloten. Imogen, however, marries a poor gentleman, Posthumus. When the king finds out he decides to exile Posthumus to Italy and has his daughter locked away. Pisanio, Posthumus loyal servant, remains in England and becomes Imogen's servant. In Italy Posthumus meets several friends. He goes to the house of a friend of his father, Philario, and is introduced to his friends. In this scene we have four characters, Posthumus, Philario, a Frenchman and Iachimo. They all argue about the virtue of the women of their countries. When Posthumus tells them his wife would never cheat on him, Iachimo argues that all women can be seduced and challenges him: he bets 10000 ducats that he will go to England and will be able to seduce her. If he wins then Posthumus will give him his ring...

Tone

Persuading somebodyDoing business/making a deal

Use cases

classrehearsal
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