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

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

## What happens

Bertram attempts to seduce Diana in Florence, but she resists his advances, exposing the hypocrisy of his vows. Diana cleverly negotiates a ring exchange and sets the terms for a midnight meeting, planning to deceive him in turn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Diana's plan to deceive Bertram by pretending to yield while actually executing a bed trick highlights the theme of appearance versus reality.

### Honor and Reputation

The ring symbolizes Bertram's family honor, while Diana equates her chastity with the same concept, showing how honor is used as a bargaining chip.

## Character check-ins

### Bertram

Bertram tries to seduce Diana, using oaths and promises of love, but reveals his duplicity by refusing to give his ancestral ring.

### Diana

Diana shrewdly parries Bertram's advances, demands his ring as a pledge, and secretly plans to trick him with a bed trick.

## Key lines

> My mother told me just how he would woo, As if she sat in's heart; she says all men Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him When I am buried.

My mother predicted exactly how he would court me; she says all men make the same promises. He swore to marry me after his wife dies, so I'll sleep with him only when I'm dead and buried.

_Diana reveals her mother's insight into men's deceitful courtship and her own ironic resolve to trick Bertram._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii
- 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