Lafew Character Analysis in All's Well that Ends Well

A French nobleman and friend of both the king and the countess. He strongly dislikes Parolles and advises Bertram not to trust him. Later in the play, when Helen is supposedly dead, he tries to get Bertram to marry his daughter, but then withdraws this offer when Bertram appears to have slept with Diana.

Lafew Quotes in All's Well that Ends Well

The All's Well that Ends Well quotes below are all either spoken by Lafew or refer to Lafew. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

I did think thee, for two ordinaries, to be a pretty wise fellow; thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel; it might pass. Yet the scarves and the bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden. I have now found thee. When I lose thee again, I care not. Yet art thou good for nothing but taking up, and that thou’rt scarce worth.

Related Characters: Lafew (speaker), Parolles

Page Number and Citation: 2.3.215-222

Explanation and Analysis:

Fare you well, my lord, and believe this of me: there can be no kernel in this light nut. The soul of this man is his clothes. Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.

Related Characters: Lafew (speaker), Bertram, Parolles

Page Number and Citation: 2.5.43-46

Explanation and Analysis:

Lafew Character Timeline in All's Well that Ends Well

The timeline below shows where the character Lafew appears in All's Well that Ends Well. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...mother, the countess of Rossillion, is sad to see her son leave. A nobleman named Lafew says that the king will be like a father to Bertram and a husband to... (full context)

...made nature immortal,” and likely could have cured the king. Sadly, this doctor is dead. Lafew says that the king has mentioned this doctor before, and tells the countess that the... (full context)

The doctor’s daughter, named Helen, is crying while the countess and Lafew talk, and the countess tells Helen to restrain her sorrow over her father’s death, so... (full context)

...gives Bertram some motherly advice to be virtuous, careful, and honest. She leaves, and after Lafew says goodbye to Helen, he leaves with Bertram. All alone, Helen reveals that her tears... (full context)

...and join the fight are free to do so, on either side they wish. Bertram, Lafew, and Parolles then arrive from Rossillion, and the king remarks on how much Bertram resembles... (full context)

...Parolles encourages Bertram to go give them “a more dilated farewell.” They both leave, and Lafew comes to speak to the king. (full context)

Lafew asks the king if he will try any remedies for his illness, and the king... (full context)

At the king’s court, Parolles, Bertram, and Lafew discuss the miracle of the king’s recovery. Lafew remarks on how all the “learned and... (full context)

...The king says that they will be married this very night. Everyone but Parolles and Lafew leaves. (full context)

Lafew tells Parolles, “Your lord and master did well to make his recantation,” and Parolles takes... (full context)

Lafew and Parolles continue to trade angry quips, and Lafew again makes fun of Parolles’ flamboyant... (full context)

As Bertram prepares to leave the royal court, Lafew warns him not to trust Parolles, but Bertram says that he believes Parolles is a... (full context)

Bertram asks if there is any ill will between Parolles and Lafew. Parolles says he doesn’t know what he has done to make Lafew dislike him, and... (full context)

In Rossillion, the countess has just learned of Helen’s apparent death. She and Lafew lament the death of “the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating,”... (full context)

After the fool leaves, Lafew tells the countess that he has spoken to the king about Bertram possibly marrying his... (full context)

...in Rossillion and meets the fool. He asks the fool to give a letter to Lafew, and says that he is now “muddied in Fortune’s mood,” and does “smell somewhat strong... (full context)

Parolles tells Lafew that he has suffered misfortune, but Lafew has little sympathy for him. Parolles tells Lafew... (full context)

...son for his youthful rashness, and the king says, “I have forgiven and forgotten all.” Lafew says that Bertram offended the king, the countess, and Helen with his behavior, and lost... (full context)

The king tells Lafew that Bertram will marry Lafew’s daughter. Bertram enters and apologizes to the king. The king... (full context)

...virtues now that she is dead, and asks Bertram to “now forget her,” and marry Lafew’s daughter. Lafew asks Bertram to give him a token or gift to pass along to... (full context)

...fleeing from Florence. She demands that the king make Bertram follow through on his promise. Lafew says that he won’t let his daughter marry Bertram now. The king sends for Diana... (full context)

Bertram is brought back in, and the king asks him why he wanted to marry Lafew’s daughter, when apparently “wives are monsters” to him and he flees them as soon as... (full context)

Lafew starts to cry at seeing that Helen is not dead. The king asks Helen to... (full context)

All's Well that Ends Well

Lafew Character Analysis

Lafew Quotes in All's Well that Ends Well

Act 2, Scene 3 Quotes

Act 2, Scene 5 Quotes

Lafew Character Timeline in All's Well that Ends Well