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Guiderius/Polydor
Cymbeline’s other son, whom Belarius raised under the name of Cadwal. Like Guiderius, Arviragus is also a fierce fighter and he is eager to take up arms in the war with the Romans so that he can gain fame and glory. However, he is not entirely aggressive: Arviragus shows tenderness towards Imogen, who comes to the brothers disguised as a man named Fidele.
Arviragus/Cadwal Quotes in Cymbeline
The Cymbeline quotes below are all either spoken by Arviragus/Cadwal or refer to Arviragus/Cadwal. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 3, Scene 3 Quotes
How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature!
These boys know little they are sons to the king;
Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive.
They think they are mine; and though train’d
up thus meanly
I’ the cave wherein they bow, their thoughts do hit
The roofs of palaces, and nature prompts them
In simple and low things to prince it much
Beyond the trick of others.
Related Characters:
Belarius/Morgan (speaker), Guiderius/Polydor, Arviragus/Cadwal
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
3.3.86-94
Explanation and Analysis:
The action transfers from the British court to the wilderness of Wales. There, Belarius (under the pseudonym Morgan) prepares to hunt with his sons, Polydor and Cadwal. However, after the brothers leave, Belarius reveals to the audience that the boys are actually Cymbeline’s sons—Guiderius and Arviragus. Belarius stole them from the nursery as infants to get back at Cymbeline for banishing him on account of political rumors. Belarius frets that it’s hard to keep the secret from the boys.
Guiderius and Arviragus appear to be the total opposites of Cloten. Though Cloten is currently nearer to the throne, he is an ignoble, shallow, cowardly fool according to the Second Lord, Imogen, and other courtiers. Though his position outwardly seems more noble than that of Guiderius and Arviragus—who were raised in a Welsh cave to live off the land—he lacks all princely qualities. However, Guiderius and Arviragus display such qualities and they yearn to see the wider world beyond their cave. They have a vaulting sense of ambition, founded on their innate sense of honor and virtue and their hunger for glory. Belarius’ thoughts on the brothers speak to a sense of innate character, an interior, deeply-rooted sense of self that circumstances cannot change. It’s a comforting thought after witnessing the superficiality and deceit of other characters and the wicked consequences of their actions.
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Arviragus/Cadwal Quotes in Cymbeline
The Cymbeline quotes below are all either spoken by Arviragus/Cadwal or refer to Arviragus/Cadwal. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 3, Scene 3 Quotes
How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature!
These boys know little they are sons to the king;
Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive.
They think they are mine; and though train’d
up thus meanly
I’ the cave wherein they bow, their thoughts do hit
The roofs of palaces, and nature prompts them
In simple and low things to prince it much
Beyond the trick of others.
Related Characters:
Belarius/Morgan (speaker), Guiderius/Polydor, Arviragus/Cadwal
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
3.3.86-94
Explanation and Analysis:
The action transfers from the British court to the wilderness of Wales. There, Belarius (under the pseudonym Morgan) prepares to hunt with his sons, Polydor and Cadwal. However, after the brothers leave, Belarius reveals to the audience that the boys are actually Cymbeline’s sons—Guiderius and Arviragus. Belarius stole them from the nursery as infants to get back at Cymbeline for banishing him on account of political rumors. Belarius frets that it’s hard to keep the secret from the boys.
Guiderius and Arviragus appear to be the total opposites of Cloten. Though Cloten is currently nearer to the throne, he is an ignoble, shallow, cowardly fool according to the Second Lord, Imogen, and other courtiers. Though his position outwardly seems more noble than that of Guiderius and Arviragus—who were raised in a Welsh cave to live off the land—he lacks all princely qualities. However, Guiderius and Arviragus display such qualities and they yearn to see the wider world beyond their cave. They have a vaulting sense of ambition, founded on their innate sense of honor and virtue and their hunger for glory. Belarius’ thoughts on the brothers speak to a sense of innate character, an interior, deeply-rooted sense of self that circumstances cannot change. It’s a comforting thought after witnessing the superficiality and deceit of other characters and the wicked consequences of their actions.
