All's Well That Ends Well | Helena
In the following excerpt, Robert Ornstein examines the characters of Helena and Bertram throughout the play, focusing primarily on Helena. He finds her more complex than Bertram, though she, like he, is somewhat self-absorbed in her own desires (hers is to become Bertram's wife).
It is not easy to say why Shakespeare wanted to write a play about characters as limited and uninspiring as Helena and Bertram. A relatively straightforward dramatization of Boccaccio's tale of Giletta and Beltramo, All's Well is the only comedy that centers on a single love—or rather, a single love-hate—relationship. No Hero, Nerissa, or Celia stands by Helena's side; for most of the play she is a solitary figure who keeps her own counsel and pursues her ends without confiding them to any other person. For a time Bertram has Parolles as a companion, but he is nearly incapable of...
[The entire page is 8812 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