# Scene II explained — Cymbeline

> Chapter companion for Cymbeline by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Cloten, accompanied by two lords, boasts about a confrontation with a villain who refused to stand and fight. The lords mock him with sarcastic asides, highlighting his foolishness and obsession with Imogen's rejection of him in favor of Posthumus.

## Themes in this chapter

### Appearance vs. Reality

Cloten appears confident and aggressive, but the lords' asides reveal his cowardice and lack of real accomplishment.

## Character check-ins

### Cloten

Boasts of a fight and expresses frustration that Imogen loves Posthumus instead of him.

### First Lord

Feigns deference to Cloten while subtly mocking him.

### Second Lord

Delivers sarcastic asides ridiculing Cloten's cowardice and foolishness.

## Key lines

> The villain would not stand me.

The coward refused to face me in combat.

_Cloten tries to frame his opponent's retreat as dishonorable, but the lords mock his claim._

> And that she should love this fellow and refuse me!

And that she should love that man and reject me!

_Cloten's resentment of Imogen's choice of Posthumus fuels his anger._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cymbeline_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cymbeline_se/chapters