Love's Labours Lost

Main Characters
Ferdinand-King of Nevarre
Berowne, Longaville, Dumaine-took the oath with the King
Boyet, Mercade-Princess of France's attendants
Don Adriano de Armado-a Spaniard
Sir Nathaniel-curate
Holofernes-schoolmaster
Dull-constable
Costard-clown
Moth-Armado's page
Princess of France
Rosaline, Maria, Katharine-the Princess' ladies
Jaquenetta-servant girl

A (Very) Brief Plot Summary

Act I Scene I: The men have foresworn women for three years, in favour of study. The Princess of France is coming. Armado is introduced. Scene II: Armado is in love with Jaquenetta. Costard has been caught with her, so Armado sends him to prison.

Act II Scene I: The Princess and her party discuss the men who swore the oath. The King and his men meet the women in the field. The King refuses the Princess' request and tells her she must stay in the field instead of the Palace. Each of the King's men has fallen in love with one of the Princess' women.

Act III Scene I: Armado agrees to free Costard if he will take a letter to Jaquenetta. Berowne asks Costard to take a letter to Rosaline.

Act IV Scene I: Costard brings the wrong letter to Rosaline. Scene II: Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, and Dull discuss the oath-takers. Jaquenetta has been given the letter meant for Rosaline. Scene III: The four men admit they are in love and agree to go to the field.

Act V Scene I: Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, and Dull discuss Armado. They decide to perform the Nine Worthies for the women. Scene II: The women discuss the gifts the men have sent. Boyet announces that the men will arrive disguised. The women trade gifts and put on masks to trick the men. The women refuse to dance and the men are fooled. The men return, unmasked, and the women complain about the Russians that had visited earlier. The men confess and the women admit they played a trick. The Nine Worthies are presented. Jaquenetta is pregnant by Armado. He King of France has died. The men ask the women to marry them, but the women order them to wait a year

Glossary
Copatain hat -a high-bridged hat
Curst -bad-tempered
Aglet-baby -small figure cut from the tag of a piece of lace
Baccare -go back
Hilding -menial, base
Nill -will not
Rope-tricks -mischievous tricks
Scape -escapade
Rudesby -a rude or impolite person
Unpinked -not pierced with eyelet holes

The Taming of the Shrew

Back in high school I had an English teacher that explained the difference between comedies and tragedies thus: in tragedies everyone dies, but in comedies everyone gets married. Love's Labours Lost (LLL) is a comedy with a twist: everyone decides to wait a year before getting married. LLL is also the shortest of Shakespeare's plays. It does contain the requisite five acts, but most of them only have one scene.

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