All's Well that Ends Well
The play follows the story of Bertram, a young man who is betrothed to Helena, but falls in love with the Countess of Rossillion's daughter, Diana. When Helena discovers that Bertram has jilted her, she seeks revenge by pretending to be a poor, sickly woman and gaining the sympathy of Bertram's father, the Duke. However, things take a surprising turn when it is revealed that Bertram is actually in love with Helena all along. In the end, Bertram marries Helena and they live happily ever after.
By William Shakespeare · First published 1602 · Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance · 5 chapters · 39,119 words
First lines
Rousillon. The Count's palace.
Enter Bertram, the Countess of Rousillon, Helena, and Lafeu, all in black.
What this Textopian page supports
All's Well that Ends Well is listed on Textopian as a play by William Shakespeare, dated 1602 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: William Shakespeare
- Date: 1602 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Historical Fiction
- Length: 39,119 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 1,060 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for All's Well that Ends Well by William Shakespeare
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering All's Well that Ends Well?
- How does this play by William Shakespeare fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
- Labours Lost by William Shakespeare
- The Merry Wives Of Windsor by William Shakespeare
- Cymbeline by William Shakespeare
- The Regents Daughter by Alexandre Dumas
Genres
- Comedy — All's Well That Ends Well is considered one of Shakespeare's comedic plays, featuring themes such as mistaken identities, humorous misunderstandings and a happy ending, all hallmarks of comedy.
- Drama — It is also a Drama, as it contains conflict, tension and high stakes in the form of romantic pursuits, social status and honor.
- Romance — Romantic relationships are central to the plot, with the tension and resolution of these relationships driving the narrative.
- Historical Fiction — While not as heavily focused, elements of the historical context of the setting are weaved into the play and contribute to its plot and themes.
Tags
Comedy · Tragedy · Romance · Farce · Deception · Love · Jealousy · Intrigue · Power · Gender · Social Hierarchy · Masquerade