Cymbeline Part 1 - The Story

Shakespeare For All

Cymbeline is an epic romance that spans British history, the Roman Empire, religious epochs, and the central themes of Shakespeare’s career. Set in ancient Britain at the time of Augustus Caesar’s reign, it begins with two plotlines that in other of Shakespeare’s plays lead to tragedy: an enraged king disowns a beloved daughter, and a faithful wife is accused of betrayal by a jealous husband. In Cymbeline, however, the generic conventions of tragicomedy, symbolic sites from Britain’s past, and a time-setting that contains a transformational spiritual event, combine to bring unexpected recovery and renewal out of these tragic beginnings. In this course, you’ll learn the story of Cymbeline, see how Shakespeare brings its characters toward unexpected moral change, and discover how this fantastical play represents the origins of some of the most significant shaping forces in his historical world and ours.

In Part 1, you’ll be guided through a detailed account of the story with commentary by Will Tosh, Head of Research at Shakespeare’s Globe, London. This episode discusses the structure, settings, and sources of the play and recounts the story using the language of the play itself, placing key quotations in context to help you understand where these lines come from and what they mean.