When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Main Literary Sources
- Giovanni Boccaccio, Decameron (c. 1350-1353)
- Shakespeare's main literary source for this play is the ninth tale of the third day of Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron, a collection of one hundred tales, most of which are love stories with boatloads of dirty jokes (like the kind you find in Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale").
- William Painter, The Palace of Pleasure (1595)
- Shakespeare probably read Boccaccio's tale in an English translation that appeared in William Painter's book, The Palace of Pleasure.
Mythology References
- Helen of Troy (1.3)
- King Priam (1.3)
- Venus, goddess of love (1.3)
- Diana, goddess of chastity (1.3, 4.2)
- Juno, goddess of marriage (3.4)
Biblical References
- Daniel 4:28-34 (4.5)
- Matthew 7:13-14, Luke 13:24, and John 12:31 (4.5)
Historical References
- The Medici Family (2.1)
- King Pepin (2.1)
- Charlemagne (2.1)
- Galen (2.3)
Shout-Outs to the Title
- All's Well That Ends Well has more internal references to its own title than any other Shakespeare play. Pretty cool. Here are some of our favorites:
- Lavatch: "She is not well; but yet she has her health: She's very /merry; but yet she is not well. But thanks be given she's very / well and wants nothing i'th' world. But yet she is not well" (2.4.2-5).
- Helen: "All's well that ends well; still the fine's the crown. / Whate'er the course, the end is the renown" (4.4.39-40).
- Helen: "All's well that ends well yet, / Though time seem so adverse, and means unfit" (5.1.30-31).
- King: "All yet seems well; and if it end so meet, / The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet" (5.3.378-379).
- Epilogue: "The King's a beggar now the play is done. / All is well ended if this suit be won:" (Epilogue.1-2)