SYNOPSIS THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Justice Shallow, his nephew Slender, and parson Sir Hugh Evans are upset at the behavior of Falstaff and his associates, Nym, Pistol, and Bardolph. Slender is one of several suitors for Anne Page, and her father’s choice.

Sir Hugh Evans sends a message to Widow Quickly, Doctor Caius’ housekeeper and a friend of Anne, asking her to help Slender’s suit. Caius is also a suitor for Anne, and her mother’s choice; so when he hears of Evans’ interference, Caius sends him a challenge. Fenton, a third suitor, also approaches Widow Quickly, asking for her help.

Falstaff has met Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page and imagines they are taken with him. He writes them both love letters and asks Nym and Pistol to deliver them. When they refuse, his new page Robin takes them. Falstaff dismisses his crew, who decide to take revenge by telling Mr. Page and Mr. Ford of the letters.

Mr. Page dismisses the matter, but Mr. Ford is suspicious of his wife’s fidelity and decides to test it. He gets the Host of the Garter to introduce him to Falstaff as ‘Mr. Brook’. The Host also averts the duel between Dr. Caius and Sir Hugh Evans by directing them to different places.

The two ladies compare their letters and decide to teach Falstaff a lesson. Widow Quickly brings Falstaff a message from Mrs. Ford, asking him to visit her.

Meanwhile, ‘Mr. Brook’ has persuaded Falstaff to act as a go-between to Mrs. Ford on his behalf, and when he learns about the appointment Falstaff has already made, he is furious and resolves to catch him.

Falstaff is in the middle of expressing his love to Mrs. Ford when Mrs. Page brings news of Mr. Ford’s approach. Falstaff escapes by hiding in a laundry basket and he is dumped in a ditch. Mr. Ford is embarrassed in front of his friends to find no one with his wife.

Widow Quickly brings Falstaff another invitation from Mrs. Ford. ‘Mr. Brook’ meets Falstaff and learns what happened at the previous encounter, and that a second appointment has been made.

Once again Mr. Ford arrives during the meeting, but this time Falstaff escapes when the women disguise him as an old dance teacher. The ladies then tell their husbands what has happened, and all four decide to trick Falstaff one final time.

The women persuade Falstaff to disguise himself as Herne the Hunter (an old Windsor legend), and meet them at night in Herne's Oak, where they plan to frighten him with everyone dressed as fairies. Mr. Page decides to take advantage of the occasion by having Slender elope with Anne; Mrs. Page makes a similar arrangement with Caius; and Fenton arranges with the Host to take Anne himself, with her approval.

Falstaff meets the wives in the woods, but is terrified by the sight of the fairies, who playfully pinch and burn him with their lanterns.

Slender and Caius choose Peter Simple and Bardolph by mistake, but Fenton finds and marries Anne. All reveal themselves to the discomfited Falstaff. Fenton and Anne return as husband and wife, and the Pages accept the marriage.

©2005-2012 PlayShakespeare.com. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this information under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. Terms at http://www.playshakespeare.com/license

Appreciate