# Bertram — All’s Well That Ends Well character guide > Bertram in All’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Young Bertram, Count Rousillon **First appearance:** 0001-act-i ## Who they are A young count newly orphaned of his father, sent to court as the king's ward, who bristles at the bride chosen for him. ## Relationships ### [King of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/king_of_france) _professional_ Bertram is a young nobleman under the King's authority, who commands him to marry Helena, creating tension. ### [Lafeu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/lafeu) _social_ Lafeu is an older courtier who initially supports Bertram but later criticizes his dishonorable behavior. ### [Helena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/helena) _romantic_ Bertram resists Helena's love and marriage to her, fleeing and rejecting her despite her devotion. ### [First Lord Dumain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/first_lord_dumain) _friendship_ First Lord Dumain is a companion and fellow soldier to Bertram, often involved in his schemes. ### [Parolles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/parolles) _friendship_ Parolles is Bertram's close companion and confidant, though he is a boastful and deceitful influence. ### [Diana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/diana) _romantic_ Bertram pursues Diana as a sexual conquest, but she outwits him to help Helena. ### [Second Lord Dumain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/second_lord_dumain) _friendship_ Second Lord Dumain is another soldier companion to Bertram, loyal but less prominent. ### [King of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/king_of_france) _professional_ Bertram is a young nobleman under the King's authority, who commands him to marry Helena, creating tension. ### [First Lord Dumain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/first_lord_dumain) _friendship_ First Lord Dumain is a companion and fellow soldier to Bertram, often involved in his schemes. ### [Helena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/helena) _romantic_ Bertram resists Helena's love and marriage to her, fleeing and rejecting her despite her devotion. ### [Lafeu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/lafeu) _social_ Lafeu is an older courtier who initially supports Bertram but later criticizes his dishonorable behavior. ### [Diana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/diana) _romantic_ Bertram pursues Diana as a sexual conquest, but she outwits him to help Helena. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Departs for the King's court, mourning his father's death and expressing duty to the King. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Bertram arrives at the King's court with Lafeu and Parolles, and is welcomed by the King who speaks fondly of Bertram's father. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Frustrated at being kept from the Florentine war due to his youth, he plots with Parolles to steal away. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii) Forced to marry Helena against his will; privately vows to flee to war and never bed her. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-v) Defends Parolles to Lafeu, then coldly dismisses Helena, giving her a letter for his mother and ordering her home while he plans to flee to war. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Flees to the Florentine war, refusing to bed Helena and setting impossible conditions for their marriage. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Appointed general of the horse by the Duke; vows to embrace war and reject love. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-v) Seen leading the army in Florence; praised for his military service but noted for his dishonorable pursuit of Diana. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi) Participates in the plot to test Parolles and discusses his failed advances toward Diana. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Mentioned as the Count Rousillon; to be informed of the capture. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii) Bertram tries to seduce Diana, using oaths and promises of love, but reveals his duplicity by refusing to give his ancestral ring. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii) Bertram orchestrates the exposure of Parolles, showing his contempt for the braggart. He also mentions having 'buried a wife' and plans to return to France. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v) Mentioned as returning home with a velvet patch on his face, possibly from war. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Returns to court, is forgiven, gives a ring to Lafeu's daughter, denies knowing Helena's ring, and is accused by Diana of seduction and promise of marriage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters/bertram - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/all_s_well_that_ends_well_se/characters