All’s Well That Ends Well

All's Well That Ends Well

Parolles’ role in the play All’s Well That Ends Well

Bertram’s companion is, by general agreement, a boastful, cowardly, treacherous character. Bertram’s unpleasant qualities have occasioned some critics to argue that it is Parolles who leads Bertram astray–that he is the villain of the piece. This, however, elevates Parolles higher than he deserves, raising him to the level of true Shakespearen evil, akin to Iago

Parolles’ role in the play All’s Well That Ends Well Read More »

All's Well That Ends Well

Discuss the perspective on relations between the sexes in All’s Well That Ends Well

Like all of Shakespeare’s comedies, the plot of All’s Well That Ends Well is primarily concerned with bringing young people together in marriage. It is not, however, a romantic play: relations between the sexes are relentlessly demystified. The good characters, like Helena and Diana, are moral, defending female virtue and monogamy against the lechery of Parolles and the adulterous advances of

Discuss the perspective on relations between the sexes in All’s Well That Ends Well Read More »

All's Well That Ends Well

Discuss the generational differences in All’s Well That Ends Well

Few of Shakespeare’s works offer such a sharp contrast between two generations. The older characters in the play are haunted by death–the Countess has lost a husband and is aging herself; Helena’s father has passed away; Lafew is infirm; Diana’s mother is, appropriately enough, a Widow; and the King is near death as the play

Discuss the generational differences in All’s Well That Ends Well Read More »

All's Well That Ends Well

Summary of All’s Well That Ends Well | William Shakespeare

Bertram, the son of a widowed countess sets off from Roussilon with his friend, Parolles, and the Lord Lafeu, to the French court. He is the ward of the French king. He is unaware that Helena, orphan daughter of the countess’ physician, raised in the household of the countess, is in love with him. The countess

Summary of All’s Well That Ends Well | William Shakespeare Read More »