Mistress ford go, sirs, take the basket again on your shoulders. At the beginning of the play it is learned that sir john falstaff and his men. Ford plans to pass himself off as a man named brook to falstaff in order to get further information. The merry wives of windsor has recently experienced a resurgence of critical interest. The merry wives of windsor o powerful love, that in some respects makes a beast a man, in some other a man a beast. In the country village of windsor, justice shallow and his nephew slender complain to parson evans that sir john falstaff. In the merry wives of windsor, fat, disreputable sir john falstaff pursues two housewives, mistress ford and mistress page, who outwit and humiliate him instead. The merry wives of windsor act 1, scene 1 translation.
But the merry wives of windsor is an extraordinary play because it makes us reconsider the importance of what we deem trivial. The merry wives of windsor is een komedie van william shakespeare, voor het eerst gepubliceerd in 1602. The merry wives of windsor by shakespeare, william, 15641616. The crowning achievement of orson welless extraordinary film career, chimes at midnight was the culmination of the filmmakers lifelong obsession with shakespeares ultimate rapscallion, sir john falstaff. With christopher benjamin, serena evans, sarah woodward, andrew havill. Falstaff, john, sir fictitious character drama subject. Its not as seedy as, say, hooters, but its not exactly one of those familyfriendly joints like red. The merry wives of windsor was published in a quarto edition in 1602 from a. In the country village of windsor, justice shallow and his nephew slender complain to parson evans that sir john falstaff from henry iv, parts 1 and 2 has wronged them.
How alice ford and margaret page earn their paradise is played out against an acute and lovingly observed tapestry. Actually understand the merry wives of windsor act 1, scene 1. Imagining that mistress ford and mistress page have each fallen for him, the fat knight sir john falstaff decides to seduce them both, as much for their husbands money as for their personal charms. Here are some of our favorite resources to help maximize theatre elearning and enjoyment. When a new play was required at short notice for a court occasion in 1597, shakespeare created the merry wives of windsor, a warmhearted and spirited citizen comedy filled with boisterous action, situational irony, rich characterizationand the likes of falstaff, pistol, mistress quickly, and justice shallow.
On top of that, justice shallow and his youthful cousin, slender, have come to windsor because falstaff. The merry wives of windsor, shakespeares only thoroughly english comedy, created an archetypal literary figure in the shape of the devious, irrepressible john falstaff. On top of that, justice shallow and his youthful cousin, slender, have come to windsor because falstaff has conned them out of money. The two play practical jokes on mistress fords jealous husband and a visiting knight, sir john falstaff.
Shakespeares only comedy set in an english small town is also the comedy boasting the most prose and the most references to household life. My daughter will i question how she loves you, and as i find. Merry wives of windsor shakespeare resources ucf research. Good master fenton, i will not be your friend nor enemy. The merry wives of windsor is largely original and appears to have no major source, although various aspects of the story, such as the surprised wife and cuckolded husband and the playing of tricks on a prospective suitor, were familiar in literature. Read the monologue for the role of mistress ford from the script for merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare. You can buy the arden text of this play from the online bookstore. The merry wives of windsor work by shakespeare britannica. Much like a midsummers nights dream, the final scene focuses on an encounter between the human players and the faerie realm.
Adapter alison carey and director christopher liam moore talk about the script of the very merry wives of windsor, iowa the registerguard the very merry wives of windsor, iowa. Falstaff decides to woo the wives of two of windsors leading merchants, page, and ford, to get money out of them. The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare classroom activities guide. Shakespeares merry wives of windsor it is the most middleclass play in setting, subject matter, and outlook, with physical gags and linguistic jokes. Mar 18, 2017 the merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares most middle class plays.
The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and the merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to. After watching henry iv part i she asked shakespeare to write a play showing falstaff. Mar 31, 2020 adapted by orson welles from william shakespeares plays henry iv, parts 1 and 2, henry v, richard ii, and the merry wives of windsor. An overview and statistics of shakespeares play the merry wives of windsor. When a new play was required at short notice for a court occasion in 1597, shakespeare created the merry wives of windsor, a warmhearted and spirited citizen comedy filled with boisterous. The merry wives of windsor from ben kingsleys ford to bill alexanders 50sera staging, shakespeares only purely english comedy perfectly captures middleclass mores.
The merry wives of windsor internet shakespeare editions. Read on for all the details, and see each the merry wives of windsor setting on the map below. Long dismissed as one of shakespeares lesser accomplishments, the merry wives of windsor c. Dates and sources the merry wives of windsor royal. The play places sir john falstaff in the country village of windsor in the contemporary setting of the elizabethan era. The merry wives determine to carry on their harassment of john falstaff, if their husbands so wish. Adapted by orson welles from william shakespeares plays henry iv, parts 1 and 2, henry v, richard ii, and the merry wives of windsor. Want to know where the merry wives of windsor is set. Shakespeare set the merry wives of windsor in the time of the audience who would have attended the play the late 16th century. The merry wives of windsor shakespeare theatre of new jersey. Weve been wondering when wed get to meet the merry wives of windsor. Read every line of shakespeares original text alongside a modern english translation. Falstaff decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants.
Merry wives, jealous husbands, and predatory knights were common in a kind of play called citizen comedy or city comedy. Additional support provided by the nicholas and mary babson fund to support chicago. Caius is from france and sir hugh evans has a welsh accent, both are mocked for their pronunciation and their point of difference. Nov 23, 2012 watch a scene from our new production of the merry wives of windsor, directed by phillip breen, with anita dobson as mistress quickly, desmond barrit as falstaff and leon finnan as robin. Read download the merry wives of windsor annotated pdf. Eddie has an mfa in english from georgia college where he has taught scriptwriting, english 101, english 102, and world literature since 2007. After revealing to each other that falstaff is trying.
The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare free ebook. Falstaff hopes to seduce the wives so he can gain access to their husbands wealth. Here is a brief the merry wives of windsor summary. The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and the merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597.
In such plays, courtiers, gentlemen, or knights use social superiority to seduce citizens wives. In scene 4, ford begs pardon of his wife for his being such a fool i rather will suspect the sun with. It is not that the play offers particularly penetrating, indepth analyses of new depths of the modern. The merry wives of windsor 2007, atlanta shakespeare company, usa the merry wives of windsor 2006, shakespeare and company, usa the merry wives of windsor 2006, oregon shakespeare. It features the fat knight sir john falstaff, and is shakespeares only play to deal exclusively with contemporary elizabethan era english middle class life. The plays funniest plotline is the conflict between sir john falstaff and the two merry wives mistress ford and mistress page. The merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares most middle class plays. The windsor wives, though, do not follow that pattern. Support of the acting company of the merry wives of windsor is provided by merle reskin. The windsor of the plays title is a reference to the town of windsor, also the location of windsor castle, in berkshire, england. It features the fat knight sir john falstaff, and is. Their husbands arrive onstage, discussing what a yoke of his falstaffs discarded men, pistol and nym, have told them concerning falstaffs amorous plans for their merry wives.
The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing. He slobbers all over mistress fords hand while master ford watches in silence. Bardolph, nym, and pistol have been causing trouble. The merry wives of windsor 1600 scenes 23 total complete text act i. For the corpulent nobleman, sir john falstaff, the inn in the small english town of windsor is. This stimulating new edition celebrates the play as a joyous exploration of language, but also places elements of its plot firmly in a continental, specifically italian. The merry wives of windsor open source shakespeare. The merry wives of windsor 2007, atlanta shakespeare company, usa the merry wives of windsor 2006, shakespeare and company, usa the merry wives of windsor 2006, oregon shakespeare festival, usa the merry wives of windsor 2005, shakespeare festival im globe neuss, germany 46 more performances performance materials. The merry wives of windsor the shakespeare theatre of. Classroom activities guide william shakespeare, widely recognized as the greatest english. Meanwhile, three suitors seek the hand of anne page, mistress pages daughter. American players theatres productions of the merry wives of windsor. The merry wives of windsor, comedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written sometime between 1597 and 1601 probably near the earlier of these dates, that centres on the comic romantic misadventures of falstaff. Then mistress page annes mom and her bff mistress ford show up.
My own personal macgyverfavorite drink at windsor s tavern. The merry wives of windsor a bourgeois comedy, with a very cute plot. Merry wives of windsor shakespeare birthplace trust. May 27, 2016 the merry wives of windsor part 1 duration. Sir john falstaff vastly underestimates the merry wives in the town of windsor as he hatches a frothy scheme to drain their bank accounts and drive their husbands insane with jealousy. The merry wives of windsor is shakespeares warmest and richest comedy. The merry wives of windsor, comedy in five acts by william shakespeare. Meanwhile, falstaff is having money problems largely due to his love of food.
Exit reenter mistress ford with two servants mistress ford. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The two play practical jokes on mistress fords jealous husband and a visiting. The merry wives of windsor, comedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written sometime between 1597 and 1601 probably near the earlier of these dates, that centres on the comic romantic. The oxford shakespeare reference william shakespeare the oxford shakespeare the merry wives of windsor. The host in the merry wives of windsor the host its not as seedy as, say, hooters, but its not exactly one of those familyfriendly joints like red robin, either. How alice ford and margaret page earn their paradise is played out against an acute and lovingly observed tapestry of shakespeares own country, elizabethan england, its follies, strengths and new emerging society. At times considered one of shakespeares weaker plays, it is often dismissed or marginalized. Since there is a war mentioned in the script the war where falstaff becomes a knight. The merry wives of windsor stands out among shakespeares plays as the only one centered on middle class people, as opposed to royalty and the ruling classes. The merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. Anyone coming from outside that social structure or from outside the confines of windsor are viewed with suspicion.
For many people today, reading shakespeares language can be a problembut it is a problem. After revealing to each other that falstaff is trying to woo each of them, the happily married wives band together to get even with falstaff in this comedy. In the merry wives of windsor, shakespeares merry wives are mistress ford and mistress page of the town of windsor. It shows the life in that english provincial town in 1590. Falstaff, who thinks hes a ladies man, runs over to say hello. Falstaff returns in shakespeares the merry wives of windsor, in which he tries to start an affair with mistress page. The host runs a local hangout called the garter inn. Among the key points to establish in analyzing a script andor character. Anyone coming from outside that social structure or from outside the confines of windsor are viewed with. Shakespeare records the problems of playing and of audiences in more detail in a. As illusory projections, the fairies extend the merry wives domestic power beyond the household into the reach of the court, forest and myth. Imagining that mistress ford and mistress page have each fallen for him. Tradition has it that the merry wives of windsor was written at the request of queen elizabeth i.
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