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William Shakespeare

All's Well That Ends Well

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Act 1

3 scenes

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    Scene 1Rossillon. A room in the Countess’s palace.6 characters12 min read

    Bertram takes leave of his mother and Helena to attend the ailing King at court. Left alone, Helena reveals her seemingly hopeless love for Bertram. After discussing virginity with Parolles, Helena resolves to attempt a remedy for her lowly prospects.

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  2. Scene 2Paris. A room in the King’s palace.4 characters4 min read

    The King allows French gentlemen to fight on either side in the conflict between Florence and Siena. The King receives Bertram, recalls his father's virtues and laments the death of Helena's physician father.

  3. Scene 3Rossillon. A Room in the Palace.4 characters14 min read

    The steward tells the Countess that he overheard Helena declaring her love for Bertram. Questioned by the Countess, Helena acknowledges her love despite the difference in their rank. The Countess promises assistance when Helena proposes taking her father's remedy to the King.

Act 2

5 scenes
  1. Scene 1Paris. A room in the King’s palace.8 characters11 min read

    Forbidden to accompany the departing soldiers, Bertram considers slipping away to the war. Introduced by Lafew, Helena offers to cure the King with a remedy inherited from her father. The King agrees to try the treatment and promises Helena her choice of husband, excluding royal blood, if she succeeds.

  2. Scene 2Rossillon. A room in the Countess’s palace.2 characters4 min read

    After a comic exchange, the Countess sends Lavache to court with a letter for Helena and greetings for Bertram.

  3. Scene 3Paris. The King’s palace.9 characters16 min read

    Having cured the King, Helena selects Bertram as her husband from the assembled young lords. When Bertram rejects Helena's low birth, the King promises her wealth and honour and threatens Bertram until he submits. After quarrelling with Lafew, Parolles encourages Bertram's decision to leave his new wife and seek military service in Italy.

  4. Scene 4Paris. The King’s palace.3 characters3 min read

    Lavache brings Helena the Countess's letter and reports that Bertram's departure has saddened his mother. Parolles tells Helena that Bertram must leave that night and orders her to return home without him.

  5. Scene 5Another room in the same.4 characters5 min read

    Lafew warns Bertram that Parolles is untrustworthy, but Bertram defends his companion. Bertram gives Helena letters for his mother, refuses her request for a parting kiss and sends her back to Rossillon. Bertram leaves with Parolles to pursue war rather than married life.

Act 3

7 scenes
  1. Scene 1Florence. A room in the Duke’s palace.3 characters1 min read

    The Duke of Florence discusses the war with the French lords and welcomes their service despite the French King's refusal of official support.

  2. Scene 2Rossillon. A room in the Countess’s palace.5 characters7 min read

    Bertram's letter reveals his departure for Italy and refusal to live with Helena, provoking his mother's anger. Helena reads Bertram's declaration that he will acknowledge her only when she obtains his ring and bears his child. Believing that her presence keeps Bertram exposed to war, Helena resolves to leave Rossillon so that he may return safely.

  3. Scene 3Florence. Before the Duke’s palace.2 characters1 min read

    The Duke makes Bertram general of his cavalry, and Bertram pledges to prove himself in battle.

  4. Scene 4Rossillon. A room in the Countess’s palace.2 characters2 min read

    Helena's letter announces her departure on pilgrimage and urges that Bertram be recalled from the war. The Countess instructs the steward to write to Bertram, hoping that his return will bring Helena home.

  5. Scene 5Without the walls of Florence.6 characters6 min read

    Disguised as a pilgrim, Helena accepts lodging from a Florentine widow. The Widow and Diana describe Bertram's attempts to seduce Diana, unaware that Helena is his wife. Helena sees Bertram among the returning soldiers and hears further criticism of Parolles.

  6. Scene 6Camp before Florence.4 characters7 min read

    The French lords persuade Bertram to test Parolles's courage by letting him attempt to recover a lost drum. Parolles boasts that he will retrieve the drum, while the lords prepare to capture him disguised as enemy soldiers. Bertram tells a lord about his pursuit of Diana and her refusal of his advances.

  7. Scene 7Florence. A room in the Widow’s house.2 characters3 min read

    Helena convinces the Widow that she is Bertram's wife and offers payment for her assistance. Helena arranges for Diana to demand Bertram's ring and promise a secret encounter at which Helena will take her place.

Act 4

5 scenes
  1. Scene 1Without the Florentine camp.5 characters5 min read

    Alone outside the camp, Parolles considers inventing an exploit and giving himself wounds to support his story. The disguised soldiers seize and blindfold Parolles, who offers military secrets to save his life.

  2. Scene 2Florence. A room in the Widow’s house.2 characters4 min read

    Diana demands Bertram's ancestral ring as proof of his love, and he reluctantly gives it to her. Diana promises Bertram a silent night-time meeting and requires him to accept another ring during it.

  3. Scene 3The Florentine camp.6 characters18 min read

    The French lords discuss news that Helena has died and the letters urging Bertram to return home. Preparing to leave Florence, Bertram claims to have enjoyed Diana's favours and obtained her ring. Under mock interrogation, Parolles divulges military information and slanders his comrades before discovering that they have overheard everything.

  4. Scene 4Florence. A room in the Widow’s house.3 characters2 min read

    Helena confirms that Bertram unknowingly slept with his wife while believing her to be Diana. Helena prepares to take Diana and the Widow to the King at Marseilles and promises to secure Diana's marriage portion.

  5. Scene 5Rossillon. A room in the Countess’s palace.3 characters6 min read

    Believing Helena dead, Lafew discusses marrying his daughter to Bertram with the Countess's approval. Lavache announces that Bertram has arrived home and describes the humiliating condition of his former companion Parolles.

Act 5

3 scenes
  1. Scene 1Marseilles. A street.3 characters2 min read

    At Marseilles, Helena learns that the King has already left for Rossillon. Helena entrusts a gentleman with a petition for the King and prepares to follow with Diana and the Widow.

  2. Scene 2Rossillon. The inner court of the Countess’s palace.3 characters3 min read

    After enduring Lavache's mockery, the impoverished Parolles approaches Lafew with a letter from Bertram and receives permission to wait indoors.

  3. Scene 3The same. A room in the Countess’s palace.9 characters19 min read

    The King forgives Bertram and approves his proposed marriage to Lafew's daughter. The King's recognition of Helena's ring raises suspicions, and Diana produces Bertram's ring and accuses him of breaking a marriage promise. Diana brings in Helena, who reveals the substitution, presents Bertram's ring and declares herself pregnant, prompting him to promise love if her account is proved.