Summary of the Play

The play opens with young Bertram inheriting the title of Count of Rossillion following his father’s death. Helena, the orphaned daughter of a renowned physician, has lived in the Rossillion household for many years under the guardianship of Bertram’s mother, the Countess. Throughout this time, Helena has secretly harbored feelings for Bertram, though she has never revealed them. The Countess, however, is fully aware of Helena’s affections and supports them.

In this context, the King of France falls gravely ill. Bertram departs to join the King’s court, and Helena soon follows him to Paris, carrying a prescription from her father that she believes may cure the ailing monarch. Her efforts are rewarded when the King expresses his gratitude and offers her the opportunity to choose any bachelor from his court. Helena selects Bertram, who is displeased by this choice. He perceives Helena as inferior and unworthy of his attention. Nevertheless, the King insists that Bertram must marry her. Reluctantly, Bertram agrees to the marriage but quickly leaves for a war in Tuscany, accompanied by his cowardly friend, Parolles.

Helena returns to Rossillion, expecting Bertram to join her shortly. As time passes and it becomes clear that he will not return, Bertram sends a message stating that she cannot call him her husband until she obtains a ring from him, which he always wears, and bears him a child—an arduous task, particularly since Bertram is in Italy with no intention of consummating their marriage. Taking matters into her own hands once more, Helena resolves to follow him. She arrives in Florence disguised as a pilgrim and finds lodging with a widow whose daughter, Diana, has ironically caught Bertram’s eye. With Diana’s assistance, Helena devises a plan to ensnare Bertram, leading to one of Shakespeare’s most notorious schemes: the bed trick.

Helena persuades Diana to accept Bertram’s advances, but first, Bertram must agree to give Diana his ring before they can share a bed.