Scene IV explained

What happens

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Appearance

  Parolles delivers Bertram's message with flowery language that masks the underlying rejection and compulsion.

• Gender and Power

  Helena is expected to obey Bertram's commands, highlighting the power imbalance in their relationship.

Characters to notice

• Helena

  Receives news from Parolles about Bertram's departure and his commands.

• Lavache

  Engages in witty banter with Helena and Parolles about the Countess's health.

• Parolles

  Delivers Bertram's message to Helena, instructing her to take leave of the king.

Key passages

• “She is not well; but yet she has her health: she’s very merry; but yet she is not well: but thanks be given, she’s very well and wants nothing i’ the world; but yet she is not well.”

  The Countess is in good physical health and cheerful, but she is not truly well because she is still alive on earth rather than in heaven.

  The Clown's paradoxical speech humorously suggests that earthly life itself is a kind of illness.

• “The great prerogative and rite of love, Which, as your due, time claims, he does acknowledge; But puts it off to a compell’d restraint; Whose want, and whose delay, is strew’d with sweets, Which they distil now in the curbed time, To make the coming hour o’erflow with joy And pleasure drown the brim.”

  Bertram acknowledges that he owes you the rights of love, but he postpones them due to urgent business; the delay is sweetened by anticipation, so that when the time comes, joy will be overwhelming.

  Parolles uses ornate language to soften the blow of Bertram's rejection and departure.