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

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

## What happens

Parolles, now fallen from favor, tries to deliver a letter to Lafeu via the Clown, who mocks his misfortunes. Lafeu rebukes Parolles for his past deceptions but ultimately offers him a small coin and a chance to follow, as the king's arrival is announced.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Parolles's fallen state contrasts with his former pretensions, and Lafeu's mockery highlights the gap between appearance and reality.

### Honor and Reputation

Parolles's loss of honor is evident in the Clown's insults and Lafeu's scorn, emphasizing the importance of reputation in courtly society.

## Character check-ins

### Parolles

Parolles, now in disgrace, seeks Lafeu's favor and delivers a letter, but is mocked by the Clown and rebuked by Lafeu.

### Lavache

The Clown taunts Parolles about his fallen state and delivers the letter to Lafeu with scornful commentary.

### Lafeu

Lafeu dismisses Parolles's pleas but eventually gives him a coin and agrees to let him follow, noting the king's approach.

## Key lines

> I am now, sir, muddied in fortune’s mood, and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure.

I am now stained by bad luck and reek of Fortune's anger.

_Parolles uses a metaphor of mud and smell to describe his fallen state._

> Truly, fortune’s displeasure is but sluttish, if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of: I will henceforth eat no fish of fortune’s buttering.

If Fortune's anger smells as bad as you say, it's filthy; I'll have nothing to do with her favors.

_The Clown mocks Parolles by comparing Fortune's displeasure to a foul smell, using crude humor._

> Here is a purr of fortune’s, sir, or of fortune’s cat—but not a musk-cat—that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure.

Here is a sorry creature of Fortune, like a cat that has fallen into a dirty pond of her anger.

_The Clown likens Parolles to a bedraggled cat, emphasizing his lowly state._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-v-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