All's Well that Ends WellHarold Bloom In this romantic reconciliation comedy, the sweetly mischievous Helena plots and plans her way to winning the aloof Bertram's hand in marriage. While the lovers are united by the close of the final act, Shakespeare pokes fun at the fantasy, wish fulfillment, and conventions of romantic comedy with the play's ambiguous resolution, which has intrigued scholars, readers, and theatergoers for centuries. This invaluable new study guide to one of Shakespeare's greatest plays contains a selection of the finest criticism through the centuries, plus an introduction by Harold Bloom, an accessible summary of the plot, a comprehensive list of characters, a biography of Shakespeare, and more. |
Contents
Biography of William Shakespeare | 1 |
Summary | 5 |
List of Characters | 13 |
Key Passages | 15 |
Criticism Through the Ages | 21 |
| 217 | |
Acknowledgments | 221 |
| 223 | |
Common terms and phrases
action All’s appears audience becomes bed-trick believe Bertram bring called century character claims comedy comic contrast Count Countess court critics cure daughter death desire devotion Diana different drama effect Elizabethan Ends father feel female feminine find first force French give hand heart Heaven Helena honour human husband important interest Italy kind King King’s lack Lafeu language later leave less lines live look lord male marks marriage married matter means Measure miracle moral mother nature never object once Parolles performance perhaps play play’s plot position present problem reading reason reference regard religious remains ring scene seems sense sexual Shakespeare Shakspere social speak speech spirit stage story strange suggests things thou thought true understanding virginity virtue whole wife woman women young