Lafew

Play

All's Well That Ends Well

Summary

An old lord at the French court whose sharp wit and sound judgment make him one of the play's moral anchors. He sees through Parolles instantly and delights in exposing him, while simultaneously respecting Helena's worth and valuing genuine virtue over rank. His banter is among the play's most entertaining, and his late reconciliation with Parolles adds a note of unexpected grace.

Notable Quotations

"The soul of this man is his clothes." *(II.v)*

"I have seen a medicine / That's able to breathe life into a stone." *(II.i)*

Cross-references

• All's Well That Ends Well — the play
• Comedies
• character_parolles — whose pretension he deflates
• character_countess_rossillon — his peer and friend
• character_helena_awtew — whose abilities he champions