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Dramatic Irony
Definition of Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved directly or indirectly, by making... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the story. Foreshadowing can be achieved... read full definition
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which authors hint at plot developments that don't actually occur until later in the... read full definition
Act 1, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Love All, Trust Few:
In Act 1, Scene 1, the Countess of Rossillion imparts some foreshadowing words of wisdom to her son, Bertram:
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
This seemingly simple advice serves as foreshadowing for Bertram’s character development throughout the play. Through this line, Shakespeare sets up an ethical framework that Bertram will struggle to adhere to as the story evolves. The Countess represents the moral compass in the play. Her words echo throughout the plot as Bertram's actions are tested. As the play progresses, Bertram falters in his ability to live by this guidance. He struggles to love people who deserve it, he trusts those he shouldn't, and he certainly does "wrong" as his pride and sense of self-importance dictate his behaviors. His inability to love Helen, his misplaced trust in Parolles, and his deceitful behavior are just a few moments where these shortcomings come to light. This line of the Countess's, therefore, foreshadows Bertram’s trials and the tribulations he will face as he tries to align his actions with these ideals.
This advice, although noble, is near impossible. It's especially so for Bertram, who doesn't really begin to follow it until the final act is almost over. Ultimately, however, Bertram does partially redeem himself, though not before going through many failures and challenges.
Related Themes:
Act 3, Scene 6
Explanation and Analysis—The Love of Laughter:
In this scene, the First and Second Lords and Bertram discuss a plan they have to expose Parolles as a coward. The First Lord uses alliteration and metaphor to foreshadow the upcoming disgrace of this villainous character:
O, for the love of laughter, let him fetch his drum. He says he has a stratagem for ’t. When your Lordship sees the bottom of his success in 't, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted [...] your inclining cannot be removed. Here he comes.
This passage is full of repetitive “L” sounds. The shower of 'L' sounds in "love,” "laughter,” and "let" produce a flowing, musical effect. This alliteration gives the dialogue a playful and mocking tone, and the repetitive sounds give it a sense of movement and progressive flow. This echoes its content, as the First Lord is teasingly suggesting that Parolles will inevitably prove himself to be fake if they let him.
The scene also contains foreshadowing. By talking about what he expects to happen to Parolles if he’s allowed to “fetch his drum,” the First Lord hints at future events in the play. He sets up an expectation and excitement for the audience, as they can anticipate a funny and revealing scene is coming. Just as the First Lord suggests, Parolles does indeed reveal “the bottom of his character” shortly after this.
As if this weren’t enough, Shakespeare’s use of metaphor adds yet another layer of mockery to this setup for Parolles. When Parolles is referred to as a “counterfeit lump of ore,” the First Lord suggests that he is pretending to be something valuable but is in fact worthless. Just as heating ore reveals the true metal within, the audience is told that putting Parolles in a pressured situation will reveal his true character. The word “metal” here is also a pun, as it sounds like “mettle,” which is a period-specific phrase meaning "courage and fortitude." This usage is funny because these are the very qualities that Parolles lacks.
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