Cymbeline · Character

Queen

Cymbeline's second wife, a widow who married into the crown and now works patiently to poison, marry off, or remove anyone standing between her son and the throne.

supporting

First appearance: Scene I

See Queen in Scene I Book page

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The queen plays the doting stepmother while keeping a cabinet of drugs and a plan for every obstacle: Imogen married off to Cloten, Posthumus discredited, the king managed. She is the play's quietest menace, her…

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See Queen in Scene I

Character Web

17 connections

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Relationship types

Professional
Family
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Main characters and family
Protagonist

+12 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Posthumus reaches his emotional and psychological peak here by moving from vengeful rage to profound guilt and…

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Relationships

Pisanio
professional · negative
Cloten
family · ambivalent
Sicilius Leonatus
rivalry · negative
Sicilius Leonatus
rivalry · negative
Pisanio
professional · negative
Pisanio
professional · negative
Cloten
family · ambivalent

Pisanio
Pisanio serves the Queen as a courtier but secretly distrusts her, as she plots against Imogen and the kingdom.
Cloten
Cloten is the Queen's son, and she manipulates him to further her own ambitions for the throne.
Sicilius Leonatus
The Queen schemes against the memory and legacy of Sicilius Leonatus, as she seeks to usurp the royal line.
Sicilius Leonatus
The Queen schemes against the memory and legacy of Sicilius Leonatus, as she seeks to usurp the royal line.
Pisanio
Pisanio serves the Queen as a courtier but secretly distrusts her, as she plots against Imogen and the kingdom.
Pisanio
Pisanio serves the Queen as a courtier but secretly distrusts her, as she plots against Imogen and the kingdom.
Cloten
Cloten is the Queen's son, and she manipulates him to further her own ambitions for the throne.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Queen in Scene I

In the story

Queen appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene I
Pretends to support Imogen and Posthumus but schemes against them; manipulates Cymbeline.
Scene V
Obtains what she believes are poisons from Cornelius and attempts to bribe Pisanio into betraying Posthumus.
Scene I
Referred to as a 'crafty devil' who bears all down with her brain and is constantly coining plots.
Scene III
The Queen advises Cloten on how to win Imogen through patient and strategic courtship.
Scene I
Supports defiance against Rome, invoking Britain's natural defenses.
Scene IV
Implied as the source of the box of medicine given to Pisanio for Imogen.
Scene V
Manipulates the situation, hoping Imogen's disappearance leads to her own advantage.
Scene III
Reported to be on a desperate bed, suffering from a fever and madness due to Cloten's absence.

Chapter companion notes

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See Queen in Scene I