The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor or Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1597 or earlier was first published in 1602 from abbreviated text. The region where The Merry Wives of Windsor takes place is mentioned in the comedy’s title, it is about the town of Windsor, namely location of Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.

Entire play in one page

Act 1, Scene 1: Windsor. Before PAGE's house.
Act 1, Scene 2: The same.
Act 1, Scene 3: A room in the Garter Inn.
Act 1, Scene 4: A room in DOCTOR CAIUS' house.

Act 2, Scene 1: Before PAGE'S house.
Act 2, Scene 2: A room in the Garter Inn.
Act 2, Scene 3: A field near Windsor.

Act 3, Scene 1: A field near Frogmore.
Act 3, Scene 2: A street.
Act 3, Scene 3: A room in FORD'S house.
Act 3, Scene 4: A room in PAGE'S house.
Act 3, Scene 5: A room in the Garter Inn.

Act 4, Scene 1: A street.
Act 4, Scene 2: A room in FORD'S house.
Act 4, Scene 3: A room in the Garter Inn.
Act 4, Scene 4: A room in FORD'S house.
Act 4, Scene 5: A room in the Garter Inn.
Act 4, Scene 6: Another room in the Garter Inn.

Act 5, Scene 1: A room in the Garter Inn.
Act 5, Scene 2: Windsor Park.
Act 5, Scene 3: A street leading to the Park.
Act 5, Scene 4: Windsor Park.
Act 5, Scene 5: Another part of the Park.

The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare, the action is set in Windsor, comedy in five acts

When does The Merry Wives of Windsor take place? The play about comic romantic misadventures of the fat knight, Falstaff, nominally set in the reign of Henry IV or Henry V (early 15th century). The play also implies a contemporary setting of the Elizabethan era (c. 1600).

Despite of the elements of Plautus’s comedies and Italian novelle, that are typical for the work, the source of the play is unknown. Some components may have been adapted from Il Pecorone, a collection of stories by Ser Giovanni Fiorentino. The main distinctive feature of this Shakespearean comedy is that the action is set not in imaginary country but in Windsor. So, the reader can immerse in the atmosphere of small-town rural life of playwright’s own day.

The Merry Wives of Windsor features Sir John Falstaff, the character who had been featured before in Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2. The work has been adapted for the opera no less than ten times. It was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I. She asked Shakespeare to show Falstaff in love after watching Henry IV Part I.

How many acts are in The Merry Wives of Windsor? The comedy consists of five acts and each act includes from three to six scenes.

Being very short on money, Falstaff arrives in Windsor. He decides to obtain financial advantage by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. The women find that the letters he sent them are identical and take revenge: they play tricks on Falstaff when he comes calling. Together with their husbands and friends, the wives finally put Falstaff's misbehavior to an end playing last trick in the woods.

Character list

• Sir John Falstaff
• Bardolph, Pistol, Nym – followers of Falstaff.
• Robin – page to Falstaff.
• Messrs. Frank Ford & George (Thomas) Page – two gentlemen dwelling at Windsor.
• William Page – a boy, son to Page.
• Sir Hugh Evans – a Welsh parson
• Doctor Caius – a French physician.
• John Rugby – a servant to Doctor Caius.
• Mistress Quickly – servant to Doctor Caius.
• Robert Shallow – a Country Justice.
• Abraham Slender – cousin to Shallow.
• Peter Simple – servant to Slender.
• Fenton – a young gentleman.
• The Host of the Garter Inn
• Mistress Alice Ford
• Mistress Margaret Page
• Anne Page – Mistress Page's daughter, in love with Fenton.