How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
FIRST GENTLEMAN
He had two sons—if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it—the eldest of them at three years old,
I' th' swathing clothes the other, from their nursery
Were stol'n, and to this hour no guess in knowledge
Which way they went. (1.1.65-69)
The two gents kick things off for us by describing the king's suffering over the past twenty years. Maybe Shakespeare's trying to rack up some sympathy points before we meet the guy himself and we see him doing some seriously stupid crap.
Quote #2
QUEEN
Weeps she still, say'st thou? Dost thou think in time
She will not quench and let instructions enter
Where folly now possesses? (1.5.55-57)
Imogen is crying, and no one can stop her. We can't blame her: her husband has just been banished. Here, the Queen makes it clear that Imogen isn't letting go of her hubby so easily: she's prepared to suffer through it, and that's not good news for the Queen, who wants Imogen to marry her nasty son Cloten.
Quote #3
IMOGEN
A father cruel and a stepdame false,
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady
That hath her husband banished. O, that husband,
My supreme crown of grief and those repeated
Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol'n,
As my two brothers, happy; but most miserable
Is the desire that's glorious. Blessed be those,
How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie! (1.6.1-9)
We feel bad for Imogen: she doesn't have anyone in her corner. But why does she suffer so much? Is she the only truly good character in the play? Or does she cause some pain of her own?