Genre
Drama; comedy
Language
English
Setting and Context
The action takes place in the kingdom of Navarre, at the King’s court.
Narrator and Point of View
There is no singular narrator or point of view expressed in the play.
Tone and Mood
Ironic, playful, witty
Protagonist and Antagonist
There are no discernible antagonists in the play. The central protagonists are the King and his three lords.
Major Conflict
The central conflict of the play is that the King and his lords have sworn off women, only to be tempted with the arrival of the Princes of France and her three ladies-in-waiting.
Climax
The play's climax occurs when the King and his three lords realize they are each in love with one of the French women, thereby agreeing to break their oath.
Foreshadowing
Biron foreshadows the breaking of the oath when he protests to the oath's stipulations in the first scene of the play.
Understatement
Biron's protestations of the oath turn out to be an understatement, as the men not only desire the company of women but end up falling in love.
Allusions
The performance of the Nine Worthies alludes to a number of historical, mythological, and biblical male figures who represent a masculine ideal for the other characters.
Imagery
Important imagery in the play includes the dullness of the court in the absence of women, women as illuminators, women as temptresses, and the portrayal of Cupid as a ruthless military commander.
Paradox
The central paradox of the play is that the men's efforts to become scholars have inhibited their ability to enjoy beauty.
Parallelism
Don Armado and Biron are parallel characters who both deliver lengthy speeches about love. However, Don Armado's speech is largely ironic, as he is in love with a common woman (who may also be a prostitute) and he is a symbolic stand-in for the failed Spanish Armada.
Personification
Love is personified as both an infectious disease and a cruel military commander in the play.
Use of Dramatic Devices
This play relies heavily on wordplay, puns, and witty exchanges. Many see this as one of the play's central weaknesses, as these dialogues do not contribute much to the plot. Others argue that these exchanges are evidence of Shakespeare's talent with language.
