The Merry Wives of Windsor (19 page)

Lines 1–91:
Justice Shallow, accompanied by Slender, complains to Parson Evans about Falstaff. Comedy is generated by Shallow’s self-importance, Slender’s misuse of language, and Parson Evans’s Welsh accent. This presentation of the Justice and the Parson, significant figures in their community, establishes the play’s focus on “Middle England” and its inhabitants. The conversation turns to Anne Page, and Evans’s idea that she should marry Slender. Any potential romance is quickly undermined by Slender’s description of Anne: she “has brown hair, and speaks small like a woman.” Evans’s repeated references to Anne’s future inheritance of “seven hundred pound” draws attention to the link between love and money. They arrive at Page’s house, where Falstaff is visiting.

Lines 92–270:
Shallow claims that Falstaff has “beaten [his] men, killed [his] deer, and broke open [his] lodge.” Falstaff’s mocking and ready confession highlights both his amorality and wit, contrasting with the slower intellect of Shallow and his companions. Slender accuses Pistol of picking his purse, which Pistol denies, leading Slender to accuse Nim and Bardolph in turn. They also deny it and accuse Slender of being drunk and unable to remember. As they argue, Anne brings wine and the Mistresses Ford and Page arrive. Page encourages everyone to go in and “drink down all unkindness.” Shallow, Slender, and Evans remain and are joined by Slender’s servant, Simple. As Slender asks Simple for his “Book of Riddles,” Shallow impatiently points out that they are waiting for him, and that Evans has made a tentative proposal of marriage to Anne on his behalf. They ask Slender if he would like to marry Anne; he says that he will do as his cousin wishes. When asked whether he loves Anne, he responds that “if there be no great love in the beginning, yet heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance.” Anne calls them
to dinner. Shallow and Evans leave the couple alone. Anne tries to persuade Slender to come in to dinner. He refuses, giving a series of excuses and making awkward conversation until a page comes out and summons them.

Evans sends Simple with a message to Mistress Quickly asking for her support in Slender’s courtship of Anne.

At the Garter Inn, Falstaff tells the Host that he cannot afford to keep all of his followers and the Host offers Bardolph a job as tapster. Falstaff announces that he is glad to be rid of him, as “His thefts were too open.” He tells Pistol and Nim that he has no money and needs a new scam. He reveals his intention to “make love to Ford’s wife,” believing that she is attracted to him, and, more important, that “she has all the rule of her husband’s purse.” He shows them a letter he has written to Mistress Ford, and another he has written to Page’s wife, who he claims also gave him “good eyes” and “bears the purse” in the Page household. Pistol and Nim refuse to deliver the letters, and after Falstaff has gone they decide to tell Ford and Page about Falstaff’s intention to seduce their wives.

Mistress Quickly sends John Rugby to watch for their master while she talks to Simple, knowing that Caius does not like strangers in his house. She agrees to help Evans further the match between Slender and Anne. Rugby announces that Caius is coming, and Mistress Quickly hides Simple. Caius, whose confused speech and exaggerated French accent render him a figure of fun, sends Mistress Quickly to fetch “a green-a box” from the closet. He then remembers some herbs that he needs from the closet and finds Simple. Mistress Quickly claims that Simple has merely brought her a message from Evans and tries to stop him from revealing the content of the letter. Simple
tells Caius the truth, however, and the doctor sends Rugby for some paper.

As he writes a letter, Mistress Quickly reveals that Caius is in love with Anne Page himself. Caius sends Simple off with a letter for Evans, revealing that it contains a challenge and threatens to cut the priest’s throat. Mistress Quickly argues that Evans is only speaking on behalf of his friend, but Caius is unmoved. Mistress Quickly reassures him that Anne is in love with him and he leaves for the court. When he has gone, Mistress Quickly reveals her contempt for Caius and her knowledge that Anne is not interested in him. She is interrupted by Fenton, yet another suitor to Anne. Mistress Quickly now assures Fenton that Anne loves him, and Fenton gives her money to forward his suit, revealing Mistress Quickly’s motives: she will benefit by acting as go-between for all of the suitors. Once he has gone, she doubts his chances of success, claiming that Anne does not love him either.

Lines 1–96:
Mistress Page is reading her love letter from Falstaff. Any notions of romance are undermined by the letter’s prosaic approach and faint praise: Falstaff points out that, like him, she is “not young” and they both enjoy drinking. She is indignant that Falstaff, a “drunkard,” has addressed her in this way, and exclaims that she has given him no encouragement. She declares she will “be revenged on him … as sure as his guts are made of puddings.” Mistress Ford enters, and after some prevarication, she shows Mistress Page her letter from Falstaff, angrily asking how she can be “revenged.” The women quickly realize that Falstaff has sent them identical messages. Mistress Page suggests that they lead Falstaff on. Mistress Ford agrees but is worried about her husband’s jealousy. Ford and Page arrive, accompanied by Pistol and Nim. The women move aside to discuss their revenge on the “greasy knight,” Falstaff.

Lines 97–150:
Pistol tells Ford that Falstaff “affects” his wife. Ford is disbelieving at first, making the unflattering comment that his wife is “not young,” but Pistol continues to warn him, making humorous
references to cuckoldry. Nim warns Page that Falstaff loves his wife and they leave. Ford reveals his jealousy: he seems inclined to believe Pistol “a good sensible fellow.” Page, however, describes Nim as “a drawling, affecting rogue” and says that he “will not believe” him. Their wives approach and Page and his wife greet each other cheerfully, but Mistress Ford is concerned that Ford is “melancholy.” He orders her home, and she realizes that he has “some crotchets in [his] head.” Mistress Quickly arrives to see Anne, and the women agree in an aside that she can be their messenger to the “paltry knight,” Falstaff.

Lines 151–213:
Ford and Page discuss what they have been told by Pistol and Nim. Page dismisses their claims, adding that all Falstaff is likely to get from his wife is “sharp words,” but Ford is unsure. The Host of the Garter arrives, followed by Shallow, who tells them that there is to be “a fray” between Evans and Caius. Ford asks the Host for “a word” and they draw aside, and then Page and Shallow also speak aside. Ford bribes the Host to introduce him to Falstaff, but asks him to say his name is “Broom.” The Host, Shallow, and Page go to watch the duel, leaving Ford alone. He considers that Page is a fool to trust his wife and decides to investigate further, using his disguise as Broom to tackle Falstaff.

Lines 1–122:
Falstaff refuses to lend money to Pistol, complaining about the number of times he has had to “pawn” his reputation by lying for Pistol and Nim. Pistol points out that Falstaff had a cut of whatever they stole, and Falstaff argues that he would not “endanger [his] soul” for free. Robin announces the arrival of Mistress Quickly. She draws Falstaff aside with a message from Mistress Ford. Comedy is generated through her verbosity and Falstaff’s impatience but she finally tells him that Mistress Ford thanks him “a thousand times” for his letter and wishes him to know that her husband will be out of their house “between ten and eleven.” Falstaff promises to be there and Mistress Quickly tells him that Mistress Page also sends “hearty commendations” and has said to tell him that although her
husband is “seldom from home,” she “hopes there will come a time” when she can see Falstaff. Falstaff is convinced and asks if the two women have discussed him with each other. Mistress Quickly reassures him and says that he must use Robin as a go-between with Mistress Page. He agrees and sends him off with Mistress Quickly. Pistol follows in pursuit of Quickly, who he characterizes as a “punk” (prostitute), claiming that she will be his “prize.”

Lines 123–275:
Bardolph brings Falstaff a drink, telling him it’s from “one Master Broom” who wishes to speak with him. Falstaff sends him to fetch Broom, while gloating to himself over having won over both Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. Ford arrives, disguised as Broom. He shows Falstaff a bag of money and offers it to him in exchange for a favor. He pretends that he (Broom) is in love with Mistress Ford and has “pursued” her without success. He flatters Falstaff and offers him the money to use his superior “art of wooing” to “lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford’s wife.” Falstaff is willing, but puzzled, and “Broom” explains that if he can destroy Mistress Ford’s reputation of “honour” and “purity,” she will have no defense against him. Falstaff takes the money and promises that Broom will “enjoy Ford’s wife,” explaining that the lady has already arranged for him to visit her in her husband’s absence. He explains that he intends to use Mistress Ford as “the key of the cuckoldly rogue’s coffer,” unaware that he is talking to the man he intends to cuckold. He leaves, continuing to insult Ford. Alone, Ford is furious that his wife has apparently made an assignation with Falstaff and intends to have his revenge.

Caius boasts that he will kill Evans in the duel. The Host arrives with Shallow, Slender, and Page to watch the fight. Caius explains that Evans has not come because he is “de coward.” In an aside, the Host sends the others to Frogmore where Evans is, promising to bring Caius along. He then tells Caius that Anne Page is at a feast in Frogmore, and offers to take him there.

Evans searches for Caius, expressing his intention to “knog his urinals about his knave’s costard.” Like Caius, his language renders him comic and undermines the potentially serious nature of the forthcoming “duel.” Page, Shallow, and Slender arrive. They pretend to wonder why Evans has his sword and is dressed only in his “doublet and hose.” Slender says nothing throughout the scene except “O sweet Anne Page!” This is comically at odds with his previous approach to Anne, and ironic that Slender, a genuine rival to Caius, should be a spectator to the duel rather than a participant. Caius and the Host arrive, and everyone urges him and Evans to debate rather than fight. They exchange insults, but Evans suggests they make friends, realizing that they are only making “laughing-stocks” of themselves. When the others have left, Caius and Evans realize that the Host has made fools of them and unite in order to get even, creating an unlikely alliance and another “revenge plot” in the confused machinations of the play.

Ford meets Mistress Page and Robin on their way to Mistress Ford. When they leave, Ford comments that Page is a fool: his wife is clearly cuckolding him with Falstaff, and Robin is their go-between. He decides that his wife and Mistress Page are both involved with Falstaff and are in league with each other (which they are). He decides to reveal their deception. He meets Page, Shallow, Slender, the Host, Evans, Caius, and Rugby and invites them to accompany him to his house, knowing Falstaff is there. Shallow and Slender decline: they are due to dine with Anne Page. Page favors Slender’s suit to Anne, but adds that his wife is in favor of Caius. Caius insists that Mistress Quickly has told him that Anne loves him. The Host suggests that Fenton “will carry’t,” as “he writes verses, he speaks holiday, he smells April and May,” but Page says that he will not consent to the match, and that there will be no dowry if Anne marries Fenton. Ford urges that some of them go home to dine with him, suggesting that they
shall “have sport” if they do. Slender and Simple go to see Anne and the Host goes to find Falstaff but the others accompany Ford home.

Lines 1–135:
Mistress Ford and Mistress Page order the servants to bring a laundry basket and give them hurried instructions: they are to wait until called and then take it “without any pause or staggering,” and “empty it in the muddy ditch close by the Thames side.” Mistress Page goes to hide and Mistress Ford sends Robin to fetch Falstaff. Falstaff begins his seduction by paying her extravagant compliments when Robin announces that Mistress Page is on her way, and Falstaff hides “behind the arras.” Mistress Page arrives and the two women stage a conversation for Falstaff’s benefit. Mistress Page tells Mistress Ford she is “undone”: her husband is on his way “with all the officers in Windsor” to search for the man she has with her. The dramatic irony is compounded by the audience’s knowledge that Ford is genuinely about to arrive, as Mistress Ford “confesses” to her friend that she has a man concealed. Mistress Page pretends to notice the linen basket and suggests that Mistress Ford’s gentleman-friend hide in it to be carried out by her servants. Falstaff, entirely deceived by the women’s performance, emerges from hiding and climbs into the laundry basket. In an aside, he tells Mistress Page that he loves her before they cover him with clothes. Ford arrives with the others as the servants are carrying the basket out.

Lines 136–206:
Ford urges his companions to search the house for “the fox,” Falstaff. Unconvinced, they comment on his jealous nature before following him. The two women discuss the success of their plan. Mistress Ford says that she has never seen her husband so jealous and suspects that he knew Falstaff was there. Mistress Page says she’ll “lay a plot to try that,” and adds that they can “yet have more tricks with Falstaff.” They decide to send Mistress Quickly with another message: Falstaff is to come again to Mistress Ford at eight o’clock the next day. Ford and the others return having found no evidence of Falstaff, and Ford is criticized for his jealous behavior. Page arranges for the men to meet at his house the next morning for
breakfast before going hawking. Evans and Caius agree that they will get their revenge on the Host the next day.