| All's Well That Ends Well |
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Period written: 1602-1603
First known performance: The five acts follow the action of Helena, a lowborn beauty who pines for Count Bertram, the son of her guardian. She is granted his hand as a reward for curing the King of France of an illness. Bertram, however, is indignant at being forced to marry below his station. After the wedding, he decides he would rather face death in battle than be subjected to a mean marriage. While at war, he writes home to Helena: "When thou canst get the ring upon my finger, which never shall come off, and show me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to, then call me husband." Bertram intends this to be an impossible task. However, Helena, with the aid of a maiden who has taken Bertram's fancy, tricks him into giving her his family ring and sleeping with her as per the "conditions" in his letter. In the final act, Helena's cunning plot is revealed, and Bertram promises to be a faithful husband to her. Discuss this play in our forums.
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