The Immortality of Emotions

Shakespeare’s Globe theater contains an elaborately designed stage filled with color: blue, green, and red, gold trimmings, and ornate columns. On stage, both actors and actresses created a context mimicking that of the 1600s with their Old English jargon and their flashy clothing. Even though the actors and actresses were trying to act out a story that takes place during the 1600s, the emotions that each character experienced is similar to those all humans through out the world experience. In the play, “All’s Well That Ends Well shown in the Globe Theater, the viewer can especially not only relate to Helena ‘s emotions but can also consider Helena as a role model for her strength and courage.

In Shakespeare’s “All’s Well that Ends Well,“ Helena is a young petite blonde woman who recently lost her father. As a result, she is placed under the Countess’ supervision. Helena demonstrates her courage while living with the Countess by voicing her feelings for Bertram to his mother, the Countess. Another instance Helena demonstrates strength and courage is when she travels to Paris to help cure the King of France of a fistula. As a result, the King grants her the opportunity to choose a husband from the king’s court where Bertram was residing. Of course, she chooses Bertram, much to his dismay. For this reason, Bertram states that he will never love Helena, unless she is capable of getting his family ring from his finger and becoming pregnant with his child. Of course, Helena becomes very anxious and distraught which is to be expected especially when the person you love rejects you and gives you an ultimatum. She does not know how she can get the ring from his hand or even become pregnant with his child without him noticing. She even becomes hopeless. However, with the support of the Countess, Helena is able to turn an impossible situation into a possibility.

The Countess informs Helena that Bertram has become a general in the Duke’s army in Florence. As a result, Helena leaves France and travel to Florence. Once in Florence, Helena discovers that Bertram is trying to seduce Diana, the virginal daughter of a widow, who is not interested in Bertram. So, Helena cleverly devises a plan where Diana has to request Bertram to give Diana his family ring and to have him sleep with her. When Bertram gives Diana his ring, Diana runs back and gives Helena the ring. And then, when Bertram goes to sleep he thinks Diana will come to his bed, but instead Helena comes, whom he does not notice. Eventually, Helena confronts Bertram and shows him that she was able to overcome the obstacles Bertram placed in front of Her. By overcoming these obstacles, Helena proved not only her strength and courage but also her love for Bertram.

Not only does the viewer sympathize with Helena when Bertram rejects her, but also the viewer looks up to her as a role model for her clever ability and her strength. Even though this play took place in the 1600s, the emotions involved in this play such as, rejections, frustration, and hopeless, are emotions humanity daily. It does not matter whether it is the 1600s, 2011, or 3000 because everyone experiences the same feelings with certain emotions; Thus, making emotions immortal.