# Cloten — Cymbeline character guide

> Cloten in Cymbeline by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

The queen's loutish son, a would-be suitor to Imogen who mistakes volume for authority and cruelty for wit.

## Who they are

Cloten struts through Cymbeline's court expecting to inherit both crown and princess, and his mother's scheming encourages him. He is the play's comic villain, so crude that even the mountain-dwelling princes measure their own gentleness against his name. His pursuit of Imogen drives her flight and sets in motion the play's strangest case of mistaken identity.

## Relationships

### [Pisanio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/pisanio)

_professional_

Cloten, as the Queen's son, orders and threatens Pisanio, who serves the royal household under duress.

### [Belarius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/belarius)

_rivalry_

Belarius and his adopted sons encounter Cloten in the forest, leading to a deadly confrontation where Cloten is killed.

### [Imogen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/imogen)

_romantic_

Cloten aggressively pursues Imogen as a suitor, but she despises him, leading to his obsessive and violent advances.

### [Posthumus Leonatus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/posthumus_leonatus)

_rivalry_

Cloten resents Posthumus as Imogen's husband and seeks to kill him out of jealousy and wounded pride.

### [Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/queen)

_family_

Cloten is the Queen's son, and she manipulates him to further her own ambitions for the throne.

### [Second Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/second_lord)

_professional_

The Second Lord is a courtier who serves Cloten but secretly mocks his arrogance and foolishness.

### [Belarius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/belarius)

_rivalry_

Belarius and his adopted sons encounter Cloten in the forest, leading to a deadly confrontation where Cloten is killed.

### [Pisanio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/pisanio)

_professional_

Cloten, as the Queen's son, orders and threatens Pisanio, who serves the royal household under duress.

### [Posthumus Leonatus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/posthumus_leonatus)

_rivalry_

Cloten resents Posthumus as Imogen's husband and seeks to kill him out of jealousy and wounded pride.

### [Second Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/second_lord)

_professional_

The Second Lord is a courtier who serves Cloten but secretly mocks his arrogance and foolishness.

### [Imogen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/imogen)

_romantic_

Cloten aggressively pursues Imogen as a suitor, but she despises him, leading to his obsessive and violent advances.

### [Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/queen)

_family_

Cloten is the Queen's son, and she manipulates him to further her own ambitions for the throne.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Mentioned as the queen's son who drew on Posthumus; Imogen scorns him.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Boasts of a fight and expresses frustration that Imogen loves Posthumus instead of him.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Boasts about his bowling victory, complains about being reprimanded for swearing, and expresses frustration that his rank protects him from fights. He decides to confront the Italian stranger.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Cloten tries to win Imogen through music and bribery, but is rebuffed and humiliated, vowing revenge.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Boastfully rejects tribute and taunts the Roman ambassador.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv)

Referenced by Imogen as a 'harsh, noble, simple nothing' whose love-suit she fears.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-v)

Vows revenge on Imogen and Posthumus, planning to kill Posthumus and rape Imogen while wearing Posthumus's clothes.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Cloten enters near the cave, wearing Posthumus's clothes and plotting murder and rape.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Arrives at the cave seeking the runaways, is killed by Guiderius, and his body is later found by Lucius.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Mentioned as missing; Cymbeline notes his absence is keenly felt in the time of war.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/cloten
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters