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Act II, Scene 4: Helena's room is the freaking telegraph exchange. Lavatch arrives at court and gives Helena a letter from the Countess; Parolles gives Helena a message from Bertram. He's been called away (Parolles says), and Helena is to make her apologies to the king and get ready to go.
Act II, Scene 5: Bertram defends Parolles to Lafew, who warns Bertram not to trust him. Helena enters and tells Bertram she has done as he asked and taken her leave of the king. Bertram tells her to go to the Countess and he'll see her in a few days.
Thoughts: Man, everybody picks on Parolles! Parolles seems somewhat taken aback when Lavatch does it: he usually argues with people who insult him, but he seems to realize that it's de rigeur Lavatch make fun because, you know, he's the Shakespearean Fool. Lavatch actually does the who's-the-fool-now bit with him.
Next Parolles turns to Helena and delivers a little speech in verse about how much sweeter the consummation of Helena and Bertram's marriage will be for being delayed. He takes too much interest in their sex lives. Maybe he is a virgin.
Bertram's defense of Parolles to Lafew is as heartwarming as it is misguided: "I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant." I love Parolles to pieces, but he is neither of those things! Everyone in this play either (a) thinks Parolles is a weakling, a fool, and an irredeemable waste of space or (b) is Bertram. Bertram seems to be actually taken in by Parolles's boasting. Why?
Another opinion on page 110--below the gay thing--is Harriet Walter's interpretation. Our own Harriet Vane apparently played Helena in 1981 and this is one of several smart and interesting quotes from her in the CSE:
It makes sense--Parolles is the only one who treats Bertram like an adult, suggests adventures, makes him feel like he can do things. Bertram wants to believe in him. To some extent, Lafew's criticisms and warnings are correct--"there can be no kernel in this light nut," he says, "trust him not in matter of heavy consequence"--which is probably good advice, but Lafew goes on and on and gets pretty dire, and it's a little much. Parolles is no good, for sure, but if he's such a light nut, he's also not going to be able to do much harm.
At the end of scene 5 Helena shyly asks Bertram for a farewell kiss. Helena asks for a kiss. Does he kiss her, the CSE asks? The stage directions don't make it clear. Does he give her a grudging kiss? Kiss her hand? I think he probably just ignores her, since his next line is all, (and I paraphrase), "Gotta go!" That, or he steps up to do it real quick after Parolles's last line (and I don't paraphrase): "Bravely, corragio!"
Act II, Scene 5: Bertram defends Parolles to Lafew, who warns Bertram not to trust him. Helena enters and tells Bertram she has done as he asked and taken her leave of the king. Bertram tells her to go to the Countess and he'll see her in a few days.
Thoughts: Man, everybody picks on Parolles! Parolles seems somewhat taken aback when Lavatch does it: he usually argues with people who insult him, but he seems to realize that it's de rigeur Lavatch make fun because, you know, he's the Shakespearean Fool. Lavatch actually does the who's-the-fool-now bit with him.
PAROLLES: Go to, thou art a witty fool, I have found thee.
LAVATCH: Did you find me in yourself, sir, or were you taught to find me? The search, sir, was profitable, and much fool may you find in you, even to the world's pleasure and the increase of laughter.
Next Parolles turns to Helena and delivers a little speech in verse about how much sweeter the consummation of Helena and Bertram's marriage will be for being delayed. He takes too much interest in their sex lives. Maybe he is a virgin.
Bertram's defense of Parolles to Lafew is as heartwarming as it is misguided: "I do assure you, my lord, he is very great in knowledge, and accordingly valiant." I love Parolles to pieces, but he is neither of those things! Everyone in this play either (a) thinks Parolles is a weakling, a fool, and an irredeemable waste of space or (b) is Bertram. Bertram seems to be actually taken in by Parolles's boasting. Why?
Another opinion on page 110--below the gay thing--is Harriet Walter's interpretation. Our own Harriet Vane apparently played Helena in 1981 and this is one of several smart and interesting quotes from her in the CSE:
"Everybody sees through Parolles... but not Bertram, because Parolles appeals to his ego and makes him feel like a man. Parolles is a kind of father-substitute--Bertram's father has just died--except that Parolles doesn't fit Bertram's world."
It makes sense--Parolles is the only one who treats Bertram like an adult, suggests adventures, makes him feel like he can do things. Bertram wants to believe in him. To some extent, Lafew's criticisms and warnings are correct--"there can be no kernel in this light nut," he says, "trust him not in matter of heavy consequence"--which is probably good advice, but Lafew goes on and on and gets pretty dire, and it's a little much. Parolles is no good, for sure, but if he's such a light nut, he's also not going to be able to do much harm.
At the end of scene 5 Helena shyly asks Bertram for a farewell kiss. Helena asks for a kiss. Does he kiss her, the CSE asks? The stage directions don't make it clear. Does he give her a grudging kiss? Kiss her hand? I think he probably just ignores her, since his next line is all, (and I paraphrase), "Gotta go!" That, or he steps up to do it real quick after Parolles's last line (and I don't paraphrase): "Bravely, corragio!"