Act 1 of Cymbeline runs 807 lines across 6 scenes with 16 speaking characters — about 21.5% of the full play.
Opens (Scene 1) — First Gentleman: “You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods”
Closes (Scene 6) — Imogen: “And truly yielded you. You're very welcome.”
Who carries the voice in Act 1
Act 1 reflects the play’s overall balance — 36% female dialogue (play average: 29%).
Act 1
Male 518 · Female 289
The 6 scenes of Act 1
| Scene | Lines | Speakers | Share of act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 1 | 218 | 7 | 27.0% |
| Scene 2 | 34 | 3 | 4.2% |
| Scene 3 | 48 | 3 | 5.9% |
| Scene 4 | 164 | 4 | 20.3% |
| Scene 5 | 100 | 4 | 12.4% |
| Scene 6 | 243 | 3 | 30.1% |
Who speaks in Act 1
Leading voice: Iachimo with 28% of Act 1’s dialogue (229 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Iachimo ♂ | 229 | 28.4% |
| Imogen ♀ | 162 | 20.1% |
| Queen ♀ | 104 | 12.9% |
| Posthumus Leonatus ♂ | 79 | 9.8% |
| First Gentleman ♂ | 67 | 8.3% |
| Pisanio ♂ | 30 | 3.7% |
| Cornelius ♂ | 26 | 3.2% |
Pacing across the 6 scenes
Scene lengths in Act 1 range from Scene 2 (34 lines, the shortest) to Scene 6 (243 lines, the longest), averaging about 135 lines per scene.
How Act 1 of Cymbeline compares to other romances
| Play | Act 1 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Cymbeline (this act) | 807 | 6 |
| The Tempest | 660 | 2 |
| Winter's Tale | 584 | 2 |
| Pericles, Prince of Tyre | 459 | 4 |
About Act 1 of Cymbeline
How many lines are in Act 1 of Cymbeline?
807 lines spread across 6 scenes.
Who dominates Act 1?
Iachimo delivers 28% of the act’s dialogue (229 lines).
Which scene is the heaviest in Act 1?
Scene 6, at 243 lines — well above the act’s scene average.