Customer Reviews

All's Well That Ends Well (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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I loved it.

"All's Well That End's Well" is a convoluted story of guys who want to marry the girl who doesn't want to marry them, but wants the guy that doesn't really want her but, wants to go off with another guy. There's a coward, homoerotic undertones, slapstick, deceit, and a king who is in charge and apparently clueless.

The significance of a devious, influential, and brilliant young woman as a heroine is easy to understand when Queen Elizabeth was in the audience. In a period of sophisticated intrigues and war, this was a relevant bit of entertainment. Knowing the original context, much of this play's relevance is retained after almost 400 years.

The subtle insinuation that Bertram would rather hang with his buddy that his lady is easily lost if you don't pay attention, and would be easy to play down on stage. It shouldn't be, it was part of the play, and adds a subtle and arch touch to the script.

I really enjoyed this one, especially when the coward Parolles gets burned.

E. M. Van Court

I bought the book to use as I read the characher La Few in the recent Sacramento Shakespeare 30-hour Marathon where we read and webcast 12 comedies. I found the format with notes on one side and text on the other very easy to use. When next year's marathon rolls around, I'll be back!

This play is probably not as great as others of Shakespeare's comedies, but it is still worth the effort. The play is quite ribald. It is a short play. The plot is a familiar one - a woman is set an almost impossible task, and if she succeeds in completing it, she will get her dearest wish. Worth a read.

After the 1700s, this play fell into obscurity. it was later revived in the mid 1900s. It's period of obscurity does not surprise me. I am a champion for Shakespeare's underrated "Coriolanus" and "Timon of Athens." I honestly tried to like this play, but I was forced to concur with the great Isaac Asimov who said: "Though it ends happily and is technically a comedy, it lacks a carefree fun and happiness of the previous comedies. It is indeed, rather an unpleasant play..."

Well, moving on, we meet the Widowed Countess , her son Bertram, and the elder Lafew. We learn that the king is quite ill, and quite possibly terminal. Possibly, Helena's father could have cured the king, but he is dead.

The countess gives Bertram some advice that sounds like advice Polonius would give, though Polonius was more likable. Helena loves Bertram, but feels beneath him and contemplates virginity. One comical moment is when Parolles comments on virginity and calls it a 'vain self love.'

Later, Helena curesthe kingand asks for Betram as a husband. Now this is where I have a problem. Bertram is made out to be the villain. But how can we not possibly sympathize with him? Maybe Helena deserves something for saving the king, but does she have the right to impose marriage on someone who doesn't love her?

Well, Bertram has to go through with the marriage, but he decides to get away (at least for the moment) by helping Florence against Siena. Poor Parolles knows this marriage was unethical as it was forced, and he is constantly made the subject of ridicule in this play. Another problem I have with this play is that rather than the clever misunderstandings of "The Comedy of Errors," the clever marital confrontations and errors in "Midsummer Night's Dream," or the comical and clever passages in "As You Like It," the comedy in "All's Well That Ends Well" is of the lowest form. (Cruel mockery and ridicule.)

Bertram makes it clear thathe would rather go to war than lie with his wife. (And perhaps in time, Bertram can appeal to the king to let him out of this marriage. It would not be unheard of.)

One interesting point is that Bertram remains honorable in the fact that he does not 'ravish' Helena. He does not love her, and thus will not engage in sex. It is rather repulsive on the part of Bertram's mother how she refuses to understand his situation. (She could at least understand the marriage was forced, and talk to him, in hopes of finding a peaceful solution. Bertram's mother is not too bright.)

Later, the Countess reads a letter from Helena stating that she will leave so Bertram can come home from the war. But ASIMOV POINTS OUT THE TRUTH: "Helena is not quite as unselfish as she appears to be. She does not go to the shrine at all, but sneaks off to Florence in disguise as a pilgrimhoping that she may yet return to her reluctant husband."

Well, onward. in Florence, Helena meets with Diana (whom Bertram loves). And Helena thinks she can trick Bertram into making her pregnant. We then have the cruel practical joke played on Parolles when he is blindfolded and threatened to reveal secrets by his friends. Perhaps even Shakespeare felt bad about this as he has Parolles say: "Who can not be crushed with a plot?" (4.3.340).

We also see Bertram try to win the affection of Diana. Diana of course feels nothing for him. BUT HERE IS SOME HYPOCRISY! Helena imposed an unwanted marriage on Bertram. So now why is Bertram advancing on Diana so bad? But of course Diana consents to meet Bertram, and it will of course be Helena who does so.

But tricking Bertram into getting her pregnant is not enough. Helena wants to spread the false news of her death back home. (Now she wants a sympathy party?)

One redeeming element is that LaFew shows some compassion for the disgraced Parolles and offers him a job. And of course Bertram feels bad when he thiks Helena is dead, but is overjoyed by her return. Helena may very well be the spoiled brat of Shakespeare's plays.