All's Well That Ends Well | Parolles
In the following essay, David Ellis argues that Parolles is not a "corrupter of youth" and that Bertram is not under his spell. Parolles supports and encourages Bertram's misbehavior but is not the cause of it. Ellis also discusses how Lavache and Parolles both contain elements of the fool and the knave.
Shakespeare's plays often include characters ready to save us the bother of seeing for ourselves. Generally speaking, the higher their social status, the more chance they have of being listened to. Maria's character-sketch of Malvolio in Act II, Scene iii of Twelfth Night would not have enjoyed so much success if her mistress hadn't already pronounced him "sick of self-love." When in Act III, Scene ii of All's Well That Ends Well the two French lords deliver Bertram's unpleasant letters to Rossillion, the Countess asks who is with him in Florence and, on hearing that it is...
[The entire page is 5963 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Navigate
See Also:
- - Read the All's Well That Ends Well text online.
- - All's Well That Ends Well summary and study guide in the eNotes.
Tell a friend about All's Well That Ends Well at eNotes.
- Add All's Well That Ends Well to your favorites