In All’s Well That Ends Well, Bertram is the countess’s son pursued by Helena. He is the Count of Roussillon and the son of the Countess of Roussillon, who has taken Helena into her household after Helena’s father dies.
Helena loves Bertram despite their difference in social position. Bertram initially rejects her because she is of lower birth, but the King of France obliges him to marry her after Helena cures the King’s illness. Bertram then leaves for war in Italy and sets conditions for accepting the marriage: Helena must bear his child and obtain his family ring.
Helena eventually fulfills both conditions through the play’s famous “bed trick,” taking Diana’s place in a nighttime meeting with Bertram. She also obtains his ring, while Bertram believes Helena has died. The final revelation forces him to confront the consequences of his behavior, and he promises to love her.
Parolles is a close companion who accompanies Bertram but is not his brother. Lafew is an older lord, and Rinaldo is not the countess’s son.