All’s Well That Ends Well · Chapter
Scene IV explained
Helena speaks with the Clown about the Countess's health, then Parolles delivers Bertram's message that he must leave for a serious business, asking Helena to take her leave of the king and attend to Bertram's pleasure.
What happens
Helena speaks with the Clown about the Countess's health, then Parolles delivers Bertram's message that he must leave for a serious business, asking Helena to take her leave of the king and attend to Bertram's pleasure.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Parolles delivers Bertram's message with flowery language that masks the underlying rejection and compulsion.
Gender and Power
Helena is expected to obey Bertram's commands, highlighting the power imbalance in their relationship.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“She is not well; but yet she has her health: she’s very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be given, she’s very well and wants nothing i’ the world; but yet she is not well.”
The Countess is in good physical health and cheerful, but she is not truly well because she is still alive on earth rather than in heaven.
The Clown's paradoxical speech humorously suggests that earthly life itself is a kind of illness.
“The great prerogative and rite of love, Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge; But puts it off to a compell’d restraint; Whose want, and whose delay, is strew’d with sweets, Which they distil now in the curbed time, To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy And pleasure drown the brim.”
Bertram acknowledges that he owes you the rights of love, but he postpones them due to urgent business; the delay is sweetened by anticipation, so that when the time comes, joy will be overwhelming.
Parolles uses ornate language to soften the blow of Bertram's rejection and departure.