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All's Well That Ends Well is a play by William Shakespeare that was first published in 1623
. (The year of its first performance is unknown.) The play is a comedy that follows the story of Helena, a young woman who after curing the King of France of a serious illness is granted permission to marry the man of her choosing. She chooses Bertram, a nobleman who does not reciprocate her feelings. The play explores themes of love, class, and gender as Helena uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to win Bertram's heart.