A non-speaking part. The eldest son of the Duke of Florence, and an officer of his army.
BENTII
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
BERTRAM
A young nobleman of France. His father, the old Count of Rossillion, has died, and Bertram must leave his grieving mother and take his place in the King's court. When the King requires Bertram to marry Helena, the young Count is aghast since Helena, he well knows, is the humble daughter of a physician. He grudgingly weds Helena, but refuses to consummate the marriage, and departs for the Italian wars. From Italy, he writes to Helena that he will never accept her until she can get his ring and bear a child by him–all of which Bertram believes to be impossible. In Italy, Bertram becomes enamored of Diana, gives her his ring as a token of his affections, and arranges to come to her bedchamber. It is a "bed trick," however, and he must promise not to speak to her and to take a ring from her as well. Later, the wars having ended, and thinking Helena dead, Bertram prepares to return to France, though not before learning of Parolles' treachery. In France, Bertram prepares to wed the daughter of Lafew, but is questioned about the ring he is wearing, which is clearly Helena's. He denies that is hers and lies about how he came by it. When Diana appears in the court and accuses him, he lies again, calling her a whore. When Helena appears, he begs her forgiveness and promises to love her dearly.
CHITOPHER
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
CORAMBUS
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
COSMO
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
OLD COUNT of ROSSILLION
A "ghost character." Father of Bertram and close friend to the King. The old Count has recently died.
COUNTESS of ROSSILLION
Mother of Bertram and guardian of Helena. She is angered by her son's refusal to accept Helena as his wife, and renounces him, claiming Helena is her only child. On Bertram's return, she accepts him, however, begs the king's forgiveness for him, and sees him happily reunited with Helena. Shaw considered hers "the most beautiful old woman's part ever written."
DIANA
A young woman of Florence. She is pursued by Bertram, but Mariana has warned her of his seductions, and she rejects his advances. On meeting Helena, and learning of her plight, Diana agrees to help her. Devising a "bed trick" she persuades Bertram to give her his ring, arranges for him to steal into her bedchamber, making him promise not to speak to her when he arrives, and to take a ring from her when he is there. Later, in France, she reveals Bertram's intended sins, and eventually reveals that Helena is still alive.
DUKE of FLORENCE
The Duke of Florence is at war, and while he seeks the help of the King of France, he is aided only by certain young French lords, including Bertram.
DUMAIN
The name of the First Lord of France. He is one of the four lords who attend the King. He is a friend of Bertram's and is passed over by Helena before she chooses Bertram as her husband. Later, he encourages Bertram to test Parolles' honesty and loyalty.
DUMAIN'S BROTHER
A "ghost character." Brother to the First Lord of France, and a captain in the Florentine army.
ESCALUS
A non-speaking part. An officer in the Duke of Florence's army.
GENTLEMAN
A gentleman of the French court. He delivers a message for Helena.
GERARD DE NARBON
A "ghost character." A famous physician in the service of the Old Count of Rossillion and the father of Helena. De Narbon has died six months before the play begins, but it is one of his remedies that Helena uses to cure the King.
GRATII
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
GUILTIAN
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
HELENA
The daughter of Gerard de Narbon. Helena is in love with Bertram. To win Bertram for her husband, Helena travels to Paris and presents herself to the King. She informs the King that she will cure his fistula if, in return, she may choose a husband from the King's court. When her cure is successful, Helena chooses Bertram. Helena is heartbroken when Bertram rejects her saying that he will not accept her until she can obtain his ring and bear a child by him. Further, and when Bertram vows he will not return from the wars while Helena is in France, Helena concludes that she is putting his life in danger and departs on a pilgrimage. On the way she meets and befriends the Widow of Florence and her daughter Diana, who, in turn, help her with a plot to trick Bertram out of his ring and into sleeping with Helena. The plan is a "bed trick" and on an appointed night Helena waits in Diana's bed for Bertram, who mistakes her for Diana. Helena spreads the false news that she has died from heartbreak on her pilgrimage. At last, Helena returns to France, pregnant by Bertram and with his ring, and claims him a second time by the terms of his own letter. They are thereby finally united.
ISBEL
A "ghost character." Beloved of Lavatch.
JACQUES
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
KING
King of France. Afflicted with a fistula that his physicians have been unable to cure, the King despairs. When Helena claims to be able to cure him, he initially dismisses her, but later relents and promises her a husband from his court if her cure is successful. When he is cured, he fulfils his promise by requiring Bertram to marry Helena. In the end, he is reconciled to Bertram, then suspects Bertram of having murdered Helena, and is reconciled to him again when Helena reappears.
LAFEW
A Lord of France. He encourages the King to consider Helena's cure. Later, believing Helena dead, he arranges for Bertram to be engaged to his own daughter, but when Bertram is discredited, he cancels the engagement.
LAVATCH
A clown. A servant to the Countess of Rossillion.
LODOWICK
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
FRENCH LORDS, FOUR
Four lords attend the King. The first is a friend of Bertram's. He is passed over by Helena before she chooses Bertram as her husband. Later, he encourages Bertram to test Parolles' honesty and loyalty. Also called Dumain.
The second is also passed over by Helena before she chooses Bertram as her husband. Later, he encourages Bertram to test Parolles' honesty and loyalty. Together with a group of soldiers, the Second Lord ambushes Parolles, blindfolds him and convinces him he has been taken captive by the enemy; all in order to demonstrate that Parolles is a coward and a traitor.
The third lord is a non-speaking part. He is passed over by Helena before she chooses Bertram as her husband.
The fourth lord is likewise passed over by Helena before she chooses Bertram as her husband.
MARIANA
A woman of Florence. She is neighbor to the Widow of Florence and warns Diana of Bertram and Parolles, whom she says are notorious seducers.
MESSENGER
A servant of Bertram who carries a message to the French Lords.
MORGAN
The name of one of the soldiers who abducts Parolles. He pretends to be a friar and hears Parolles' confession.
PAROLLES
A friend to Bertram. He encourages Bertram's hasty departure to Italy. During the wars, he pretends to be incensed by the dishonorable loss of the army's drum and lies about having a plan to recover it. Parolles is abducted by the Second Lord and a group of soldiers and, thinking his life is in danger, he quickly promises to betray the Florentines to save himself. Standing blindfolded before Bertram, but still thinking himself in the hands of the enemy, Parolles reveals secrets about the Duke's army; including numbers of men and the names of the commanders; and berates the Florentine officers, including Bertram. A letter is also found on Parolles telling Diana that Bertram is a fool and should be gulled out of his money. When Parolles learns of the deception, he is ashamed but optimistic that he can still find a place in French society.
RINALDO
The Countess' steward.
SEBASTIAN
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
SOLDIER, FIRST AND SECOND
Soldier who aid the Second Lord in abducting Parolles. Since the men are posing as enemy soldiers, and pretend to be unable to speak Parolles' language, the First Soldier pretends to be an interpreter.
SOLDIERS
Soldiers who aid the Second Lord in abducting Parolles. The speak gibberish to convince Parolles that they are enemies speaking a foreign tongue.
SPURIO
A "ghost character." A captain in the Florentine army.
STEWARD
A servant to the Countess. Also called Rinaldo.
VAUMOND
A "ghost character." A commander in the Florentine army.
WIDOW of FLORENCE
Mother to Diana. Helena lodges with the widow during her pilgrimage. The Widow and her daughter help Helena in her plan to win over Bertram.