# Scene III explained — All’s Well That Ends Well

> Chapter companion for All’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The Duke of Florence appoints Bertram as general of his horse, and Bertram accepts the charge, vowing to prove himself a lover of war and a hater of love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor and Reputation

Bertram seeks honor through military service, accepting a command to prove his worth.

### Love and Obsession

Bertram explicitly rejects love, declaring himself a 'hater of love' as he commits to war.

## Character check-ins

### Bertram

Appointed general of the horse by the Duke; vows to embrace war and reject love.

### Parolles

Present with Bertram and the soldiers before the Duke.

## Key lines

> This very day, Great Mars, I put myself into thy file: Make me but like my thoughts, and I shall prove A lover of thy drum, hater of love.

Today I dedicate myself to the god of war; if my actions match my intentions, I will become a devoted soldier and reject romance.

_Bertram's declaration of allegiance to war over love, reinforcing his flight from Helena._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters