The King of France: Power and Gratitude
First appears: Act 1, Scene 2
The King is dying when the play begins. He has given up on his own physicians. Helena arrives from Rossillion with her dead father's remedy, and he is sceptical, until she offers to stake her life on the cure.
Her success transforms him. He is restored to health and immensely grateful. When he gives Helena the right to choose any husband from his court, he means it as a gift. When Bertram refuses her, the King is genuinely outraged at the insult to both Helena and his own authority.
He represents legitimate power used correctly. But his authority cannot make Bertram love Helena, which is the play's central problem.
Key Scenes
The King of France's Key Quotes
“Virtue and she Is her own dower; honour and wealth from me.”
The King of France, Act 2, Scene 3
“All yet seems well; and if it end so meet, The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.”
The King of France, Act 5, Scene 3
Themes
Other Characters in All's Well That Ends Well
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