# Posthumus Leonatus — Cymbeline character guide

> Posthumus Leonatus in Cymbeline by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Leonatus, Posthumus

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

## Snapshot

An orphan raised to courtly excellence, he wagers his wife's chastity on a stranger's boast and spends the rest of the play learning what that wager cost him.

## Who they are

Posthumus is the king's ward, praised as a sample to the youngest and a glass to the mature, yet his virtue cracks the moment Iachimo claims to have won Imogen's bed. He orders her death, then drowns in self-loathing when he believes it done. His arc from credulous husband to penitent soldier is the play's engine of guilt and recovery.

## Relationships

### [Iachimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/iachimo)

_rivalry_

Iachimo wagers with Posthumus over Imogen's fidelity, then lies to win, creating bitter enmity between them.

### [Cloten](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/cloten)

_rivalry_

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

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

_romantic_

Imogen and Posthumus are deeply in love as husband and wife, though their bond is tested by false accusations and separation.

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

_romantic_

Imogen and Posthumus are deeply in love as husband and wife, though their bond is tested by false accusations and separation.

### [Iachimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/iachimo)

_rivalry_

Iachimo wagers with Posthumus over Imogen's fidelity, then lies to win, creating bitter enmity between them.

### [Cloten](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/cloten)

_rivalry_

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

### [Iachimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cymbeline_se/characters/iachimo)

_rivalry_

Iachimo wagers with Posthumus over Imogen's fidelity, then lies to win, creating bitter enmity between them.

## In the story

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

Banished for marrying Imogen; vows loyalty; gives Imogen a bracelet; plans to reside in Rome at Philario's.

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

Defends his wife Imogen's chastity and accepts Iachimo's wager, betting his ring against ten thousand ducats.

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

Posthumus is mentioned in Iachimo's false reports as being unfaithful, and his letter introduces Iachimo to Imogen.

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

Mentioned as a banished rascal by Cloten, and as Imogen's banished lord by the second lord.

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

Falls for Iachimo's false proof and denounces Imogen's chastity, giving away his ring in fury.

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

Delivers a furious soliloquy denouncing women after believing Iachimo's lies about Imogen.

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

Mentioned as the author of the murder letter, falsely believing Imogen unfaithful.

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

Posthumus grieves over Imogen's supposed death, resolves to fight for Britain in peasant disguise.

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

Disguised as a poor soldier, he defeats and spares Iachimo, then helps rescue Cymbeline.

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

Describes the heroic stand of an old man and two boys, then resolves to die for Imogen and is captured.

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

Imprisoned and awaiting death, he welcomes bondage as a path to liberty, repents for Imogen's sake, and receives a prophetic vision from Jupiter.

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

Revealed as the poor soldier, confesses to ordering Imogen's death, strikes her, and later forgives Iachimo.

## Links

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