THE DESIGN OF BENEVOLENCE IN CYMBELINE

The article explores the design of benevolence in Cymbeline. Whether it is Posthumous banishment from the court, or it is Imogen's leaving the court for the search of truth or her temporary stay in a Welsh mountain or her coming into contact with her lost brothers, they all lead to the design of benevolence. Good characters are rewarded and assured for justice on the Day of Judgment. Evil characters are destroyed. There is a constant pattern of sin, suffering, repentance, and redemption. The play begins with the domination of malevolent thought of the queen and his son but reaches to its climax with the domination of the benevolent thoughts. The benevolent characters dominate at the end. Cymbeline's statement that ‘pardon is the word to all' serves the perfect benevolent design of the play.