Act, scene, line click to see in context speech text. The windsor of the plays title is a reference to the town of windsor, also the location of windsor castle, in berkshire, england. But the merry wives of windsor is an extraordinary play because it makes us reconsider the importance of what we deem trivial. Ford plans to pass himself off as a man named brook to falstaff in order to get further information. Caius is from france and sir hugh evans has a welsh accent, both are mocked for their pronunciation and their point of difference.
The merry wives of windsor opera by nicolai britannica. With alan bennett, richard ocallaghan, tenniel evans, bryan marshall. The merry wives of windsor work by shakespeare britannica. The merry wives of windsor, shakespeares only thoroughly english comedy, created an archetypal literary figure in the shape of the devious, irrepressible john falstaff. The merry wives of windsor music, videos, stats, and. Falstaff returns in shakespeares the merry wives of windsor, in which he tries to start an affair with mistress page.
Although it contains elements of plautuss comedies and italian novelle, the merry wives of windsor does not have a known source. Falstaff, john, sir fictitious character drama subject. Watch the merry wives of windsor full movie in hd visit when sir john falstaff decides that he wants to have a little. Merry wives is about feeling like an outsider to a community and finding identity within it. Available also through the library of congress web site as facsimile page images and. The merry wives of windsor open source shakespeare. The merry wives of windsor is a charming group of women who perform renaissance and folk music. The merry wives of windsor is quite an interesting play. The play is entitled the merry wives of windsor and as such it is not surprising that what is most about is the domestic arrangements that were present in shakespeares time. Shakespeares only comedy set in an english small town is also the comedy boasting the most prose and the most references to household life.
Margaret page in the great lakes theater production of shakespeares uproarious battle of the sexes the merry wives of windsor at the hanna theatre, playhousesquare which runs through november 2. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. May 27, 2016 the merry wives of windsor part 1 duration. Much like a midsummers nights dream, the final scene focuses on an encounter between the human players and the faerie realm. Through their music, they depict a simpler time when men were men, women were women and. When they put their heads together and compare missives, they plan a practical joke or two to teach the knight a lesson. It involves sir john falstaff, who has been in other shakespearean plays, arriving in windsor virtually broke and deciding to go after rich married women. The most conspicuous example of jealousy is master ford, who nearly descends into madness at the thought of his wife cheating on him. The merry wives of windsor by shakespeare, william, 15641616. The merry wives of windsor and over 2 million other books are available for amazon kindle. The women of the play win over the men, and the poorlybehaved falstaff is made to pay for his treatment of women.
Folio 1 1623, folio 2 1632, folio 3 16634, folio 4 1685 quartos. The merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares most middle class plays. With the help of their male musicians they serve up good song and good cheer. The wives find he sent them identical letters and take revenge by playing tricks on falstaff when he comes calling. Major themes in william shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. They portray a group of serving wenches at the infamous windsor s tavern. The merry wives of windsor is a comedy by william shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. All speeches lines for host in merry wives of windsor.
Creative commons attributionnoncommercialshare alike 2. When sir john falstaff decides that he wants to have a little fun he writes two letters to a pair of window wives. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. 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 music, videos, stats, and photos. Jealousy is one of the great motivators in shakespearean drama, and the merry wives of windsor is no exception. Shakespeares the merry wives of windsor is a story of marriage, wealth, jealousy and lies. It was included in the 1623 first folio f1 in a version that is nearly twice as long as q1, and although the two share essentially the same course of dramatic action, in some places their dialogue diverges substantially. 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 is careys take on not only shakespeares wellloved comedy but also on the contemporary politics of exclusion and the rights of gay couples to marry. The merry wives of windsor kindle edition by shakespeare. So, various kinds of male absurdity are on display tonight. The merry wives of windsor ingleseitaliano dizionario. The merry wives of windsor is one of shakespeares comedies. Adapted by orson welles from william shakespeares plays henry iv, parts 1 and 2, henry v, richard ii, and the merry wives of windsor.
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. Master frank ford in the merry wives of windsor shmoop. The merry wives of windsor by william shakespeare free ebook. Frank ford is a rich citizen of windsor, married to one of the merry wives that would be mistress ford. 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 merry wives of windsor was published in a quarto edition in 1602 from a. Anyone coming from outside that social structure or from outside the confines of windsor are viewed with suspicion. Plays sonnets poems concordance character search advanced search about oss. In the plays main plot, a downandout nobleman tries to seduce two housewives in order to gain access to their husbands cash. Tiggywinkle and emperor zhark who tell her that all sorts of things are going wrong without her leadership. The central themes are love in various guises and jealousy. In the merry wives of windsor, a mistrustful husband learns that another man plans to seduce his wife. Merry wives of windsor shakespeare birthplace trust.
Falstaff hopes to seduce the wives so he can gain access to their husbands wealth. 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. Quarto 1 bad quarto 1602, quarto 2 bad quarto 1619, quarto 3 1630. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee support for browsers with javascript disabled, you may experience some difficulties using this website. Thats my son for gods sake, retorted jane, shocked at her friends halfwhispered comment. The merry wives of windsor 1982 full movie download full. The merry wives of windsor or sir john falstaff and the merry wives of windsor is a comedy by. The merry wives of windsor royal shakespeare company. Learn and understand all of the themes found in the merry wives of windsor, such as jealousy and betrayal. 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. Though nominally set in the reign of henry iv or early in the reign of.
Mar 18, 2017 the merry wives of windsor is a real romp of a shakespeare comedy and is characterized by a feminist theme throughout. Other articles where the merry wives of windsor is discussed. 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. They portray a group of serving wenches at the infamous windsors tavern. Cathy nodded towards the poolside where johnny johnson was flexing his muscles ready to dive in. In scene 4, ford begs pardon of his wife for his being such a fool i rather will suspect the sun with cold than thee with wantonness and the group decides to have one last sport at falstaffs expense. Shakespeare has obviously got a thing for writing about the dangers of male sexual jealousy. The merry wives of windsor was first published as a quarto in 1602 q1 and then reprinted in a 1619 quarto edition q2. The merry wives of windsor 1600 scenes 23 total complete text act i. The play places sir john falstaff in the country village of windsor in the contemporary setting of the elizabethan era. 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. Mistress ford go, sirs, take the basket again on your shoulders.
The merry wives of windsor new penguin shakespeare s. In honor of this sensational new shakespeare on film experience of the merry wives of windsor, lets take a look at the top ten or so most. Dates and sources the merry wives of windsor royal. 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.
The merry wives of windsor 2011, stratford festival of canada, canada a reading of the merry wives of prescott 2009, st. The most notable character is the fat and lecherous knight, sir john falstaff, who also plays a pivotal role in henry iv. Naturally, going after rich and married women will not end well, and the women get their revenge. It is like that simpsons episode where all the male simpsons gather and can find nothing better to do than charge each other head first like stags. The merry wives of windsor kindle edition by shakespeare, william. The play reveals the wives mistresses ford and page to be strong independent characters.
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. The merry wives of windsor internet shakespeare editions. April 23, 1597 for queen elizabeth at the garter feast number of lines. Merry wives of windsor gorin popp foster hightower 1965. Falstaff decides to fix his financial woe by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants. First published in 1602, the merry wives of windsor is generally considered to be one of shakespeares less successful comedies. Shakespeares merry wives of windsor it is the most middleclass play in setting, subject matter, and outlook, with physical gags and linguistic jokes. The merry wives of windsor suggests that, in shakespeares time, men were the golddiggers rather than women. It is thought to have been performed before queen elizabeth i at windsor castle. Meanwhile, three suitors seek the hand of anne page, mistress pages daughter. The play explores social standing, jealousy, civic order, and the struggles. The merry wives determine to carry on their harassment of john falstaff, if their husbands so wish. The merry wives of windsor is een komedie van william shakespeare, voor het eerst gepubliceerd in 1602. In act 2 ford is tipped off to falstaffs plan to cuckold him, but at first he scarcely believes his wife would even want to.
Professor emma smith lectures on shakespeares the merry wives of windsor. 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. Lawrence shakespeare festival, canada falstaff 2008, welsh national opera, uk. The merry wives of windsor play is set in windsor in berkshire, england. In honor of this sensational new shakespeare on film experience of the merry wives of windsor, lets take a. 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 explores similar expectations and tensions, and this adaptation carries them into the period just after the war, when triumphant feeling struggled with the realities of a threatening world.
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