All's Well That Ends Well is a play by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1601 and 1608, and it was first published in the First Folio in 1623.
Though originally the play was classified as a comedy, the play is now considered by some critics to be one of his problem plays, so named because they cannot be neatly classified as tragedy or comedy.
Helena, a lowborn beauty, serves as a gentlewoman in the household of the ...
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All's Well That Ends Well is a play by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1601 and 1608, and it was first published in the First Folio in 1623.
Though originally the play was classified as a comedy, the play is now considered by some critics to be one of his problem plays, so named because they cannot be neatly classified as tragedy or comedy.
Helena, a lowborn beauty, serves as a gentlewoman in the household of the Countess of Rousillon. Bertram, the Countess' son, is making preparations to leave for Paris to become a ward of the King of France. Helena has long nursed a secret love for Bertram, despite their class differences. It is revealed that the King is terminally ill of a fistula (to Shakespeare it was a long pipelike ulcer). Helena, whose father was a well-renowned physician, offers to cure him if he will allow her to marry the Lord of her choice – he agrees. Her medicinal knowledge proves fruitful, and she saves the King's life. The King is...
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