All’s Well That Ends Well · Chapter
Scene VII explained
Helena convinces the Widow Capilet to help her with a bed trick against Bertram, offering gold and a promise of three thousand crowns for Diana's cooperation.
What happens
Helena convinces the Widow Capilet to help her with a bed trick against Bertram, offering gold and a promise of three thousand crowns for Diana's cooperation. The Widow agrees, and they plan to execute the plot that night.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Helena orchestrates a lawful-seeming deceit, using a bed trick to fulfill Bertram's conditions without his knowledge.
Gender and Power
Helena uses her wealth and wit to manipulate the situation, exercising agency within the constraints of her gender.
Characters to notice
- Helena
Persuades the Widow to assist in the bed trick, offering payment and explaining the plan to deceive Bertram.
- Widow Capilet
Initially hesitant due to her reputation, but agrees to help after Helena's assurances and payment.
Key passages
“Take this purse of gold, And let me buy your friendly help thus far, Which I will over-pay and pay again When I have found it.”
Helena offers the Widow a purse of gold as payment for her assistance, promising to repay her even more later.
Helena uses financial incentive to secure the Widow's cooperation.
“Why then to-night Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed, Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed And lawful meaning in a lawful act, Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:”
Helena proposes they attempt the plot tonight, acknowledging that while the act is technically lawful, it involves sinful intent.
Helena reflects on the moral ambiguity of the bed trick.