Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why does Posthumus make a bet with Iachimo in the first place? Sure, he wants to prove his girl is awesome, but why go to such lengths to do so? How might the play be different without this bet?
- Cymbeline is often referred to as one of Shakespeare's "problem plays" because its genre is so hard to pin down. Is it a comedy, tragedy, romance, fairy tale, or something else? How is this play like or unlike other Shakespeare plays you've read?
- Why does Cymbeline trust the Queen? If so many characters can see through her (like Cornelius, Pisanio, Imogen), why is he duped? What does this tell us about Cymbeline as a man and a king?
- Why is this play named after Cymbeline and not after Imogen? Isn't this Imogen's story? Does this tell us anything about women and their treatment in the play?
- Is the end of the play as happy as it seems? Is it just that simple to forgive someone for kidnapping your kid or for (fake) cheating with your wife? What does Cymbeline tell us about forgiveness and lies?
- How would the tone and genre of the play change if Cymbeline ended after Act Four? Why do we have to wait so long for the happy ending? What might Shakespeare be trying to accomplish by blending genres?