Scan barcode
ricefun's review
4.0
This simple Shakespeare comedy hinges on a young count not recognizing the love of a good woman, and shunning it because of their different family backgrounds. The sub-plot includes the count's friend who is willing to say anything to anyone so long as it keeps his head on his shoulders. With some mistaken identities and a lot of bawdy jokes along the way, the play lives up to its title: All's Well that Ends Well!
weareneedcoffee's review against another edition
4.0
personal classic book reading challenge
March: Shakespeare
pt 2, a play I haven’t read (or don’t remember): All’s Well That Ends Well
Finished this literally last minute because life got in the way but it was honestly an attention grabber for me. I’ve always enjoyed reading Shakespeare and I have truly no idea how or why I haven’t read this one before.
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
March: Shakespeare
pt 2, a play I haven’t read (or don’t remember): All’s Well That Ends Well
Finished this literally last minute because life got in the way but it was honestly an attention grabber for me. I’ve always enjoyed reading Shakespeare and I have truly no idea how or why I haven’t read this one before.
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
sam_jordan's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gsanta1's review
3.0
Only in a Shakespeare comedy can the abandoning of a wife, and the coercing of a pregnancy/rape be absolved and forgiven and forgotten at the end.
There’s two plots here: Helena and Bertram, and revealing Parolles.
You can cut out the clown parts. They’re irrelevant and distracting.
I like the play mostly because there’s a pregnancy outside of marriage. But it’s alright because it’s his wife in disguise. Nice loophole!
It has a nice plot idea. The girl marries the guy in the beginning but this time he doesn’t want to get married. Sure, why not!
Every Shakespeare play seems to need secret information and a ploy. So Helena’s plotline has one and so does the Parolles plotline.
The Parolles plotline is supposed to be the comedic plot line, but it’s not funny anymore.
The widow and diana don’t make much sense and what a wild coincidence, but they serve a purpose.
I don’t understand Bertram at the end, but I don’t think Shakespeare cared.
Maybe you’ll enjoy Helena’s vigor and gumption.
Bertram’s problem is more complex but Shakespeare doesn’t explore it.
Honestly, I can’t remember any lines. There’s no philosophizing or ruminating of any kind. No great sweeping condemnation of husbands or wife or men or women or thoughts on fast friends or fickle kings.
The Countess and King each have a one line or two about time, but that’s it.
No clever puns or wordplay neither.
No euphemisms nor metaphors nor allusions.
There’s two plots here: Helena and Bertram, and revealing Parolles.
You can cut out the clown parts. They’re irrelevant and distracting.
I like the play mostly because there’s a pregnancy outside of marriage. But it’s alright because it’s his wife in disguise. Nice loophole!
It has a nice plot idea. The girl marries the guy in the beginning but this time he doesn’t want to get married. Sure, why not!
Every Shakespeare play seems to need secret information and a ploy. So Helena’s plotline has one and so does the Parolles plotline.
The Parolles plotline is supposed to be the comedic plot line, but it’s not funny anymore.
The widow and diana don’t make much sense and what a wild coincidence, but they serve a purpose.
I don’t understand Bertram at the end, but I don’t think Shakespeare cared.
Maybe you’ll enjoy Helena’s vigor and gumption.
Bertram’s problem is more complex but Shakespeare doesn’t explore it.
Honestly, I can’t remember any lines. There’s no philosophizing or ruminating of any kind. No great sweeping condemnation of husbands or wife or men or women or thoughts on fast friends or fickle kings.
The Countess and King each have a one line or two about time, but that’s it.
No clever puns or wordplay neither.
No euphemisms nor metaphors nor allusions.
tilda_mellor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cass_lit's review against another edition
2.5
I’m trying to get through more of Shakespeare’s plays and as much as I love to now know the source material for the phrase “all’s well that ends well,” this one wasn’t it.
ruby03's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Not a bad story and incredibly performed but it’s supposed to be a comedy and it did not make me laugh