Previous
Act 2, Scene 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in All's Well that Ends Well, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Virginity, Sex, and Marriage
Social Classes
Remedy and Resolution
Character and Judgment
Gender Roles
Lies, Deceit, and Trickery
Summary
Analysis
At Rossillion, the countess orders the fool to bear a letter to the royal court. The fool speaks contemptuously of the court, and the countess asks him why he seems not to respect it. The fool tells her he has an answer for all questions, and launches into some witty wordplay, annoying the countess. The fool continues to tease the countess with wordplay and jokes, until the countess stops him and gives him a letter to deliver to Helen. She tells him to send her greetings to her son while he is at the royal court, and hurries him away.
The fool again uses his clever wit and jokes to get back at his social superiors in a small way, as they constantly order him around. In the end, though, he does carry out the countess’ orders.
Themes
Literary Devices
