Character in Cymbeline
Posthumus Leonatus ♂ male
442Lines Spoken
1.1First Scene
5.5Last Scene
11.8%Of Play Dialogue
Posthumus Leonatus is the #2 largest role in Cymbeline, speaking 442 lines (11.8% of the play) across 8 scenes from Act 1 through Act 5. Below: scene-by-scene line counts, who Posthumus Leonatus shares the stage with most, and key speech examples.
Posthumus Leonatus’s position in the full cast
| # | Role | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imogen | 605 | 16.1% |
| 2 | Posthumus Leonatus (this role) | 442 | 11.8% |
| 3 | Iachimo | 430 | 11.5% |
| 4 | Belarius | 346 | 9.2% |
| 5 | Cymbeline | 296 | 7.9% |
| 6 | Cloten | 270 | 7.2% |
| 7 | Pisanio | 218 | 5.8% |
| 8 | Guiderius | 170 | 4.5% |
| 9 | Queen | 170 | 4.5% |
| 10 | Arviragus | 145 | 3.9% |
How Posthumus Leonatus’s dialogue distributes across the play
Posthumus Leonatus’s dramatic peak falls in Act 5 with 230 lines — the act where the role carries the most weight on stage.
Voice signature
Opening line (Act 1, Scene 1): “O lady, weep no more, lest I give cause”
Representative speech (Act 5, Scene 4): “Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler; no bolts for the dead.”
Who Posthumus Leonatus shares the stage with
| Scene partner | Shared scenes |
|---|---|
| Iachimo | 3 |
| Philario | 2 |
| Cymbeline | 2 |
| Imogen | 2 |
| Pisanio | 2 |
| Sicilius Leonatus | 1 |
| First Lady | 1 |
| Caius Lucius | 1 |
| Guiderius | 1 |
| Queen | 1 |
Questions about Posthumus Leonatus
Is Posthumus Leonatus the lead role in Cymbeline?
Posthumus Leonatus is ranked #2 by line count among 40 speaking characters in Cymbeline — a major role carrying 11.8% of the play’s dialogue.
What is Posthumus Leonatus’s longest scene?
Act 2 Scene 4, where Posthumus Leonatus speaks 98 lines.
Who does Posthumus Leonatus speak to the most?
Posthumus Leonatus shares the most scenes with Iachimo — 3 scenes together across Cymbeline.