Love’s Labour’s Lost · Chapter
Scene II explained
The Princess and her ladies mock the love letters and gifts they have received from the King and his lords.
What happens
The Princess and her ladies mock the love letters and gifts they have received from the King and his lords. Boyet brings news that the lords are approaching disguised as Muscovites to court them, and the ladies plan to outwit them by swapping favors and masks.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
The ladies plan to swap favors and masks to outwit the lords when they arrive disguised as Muscovites.
Wit and Language
The scene is filled with witty banter, puns, and wordplay among the ladies and with Boyet.
Gender and Power
The women take control of the romantic situation by mocking the men's advances and orchestrating their own counter-deception.
Characters to notice
- Princess of France
Receives a diamond from the King and leads the ladies in mocking the lords' affections.
- Rosaline
Receives verses from Biron and engages in witty banter with Katharine; vows to torture Biron.
- Katharine
Receives a glove and verses from Dumain; trades sharp words with Rosaline.
- Maria
Receives pearls and a long letter from Longaville; joins in the mockery.
- Boyet
Brings news of the lords' plan to disguise themselves as Muscovites.
Key passages
“We are wise girls to mock our lovers so.”
We are clever to make fun of our suitors.
The Princess affirms the ladies' strategy of ridiculing the lords' romantic efforts.
“None are so surely caught, when they are catch'd, As wit turn'd fool: folly, in wisdom hatch'd, Hath wisdom's warrant and the help of school And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool.”
No one is more thoroughly trapped than a clever person who becomes a fool; foolishness born from wisdom has wisdom's approval and education's support, and wit itself enhances a learned fool.
The Princess reflects on how intelligent people become the biggest fools when they fall in love.