Part of: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare) The Merry Wives of Windsor

Theatrical tradition (probably spurious) has it that Shakespeare wrote Merry Wives of Windsor in response to Queen Elizabeth’s demand to see a play with Falstaff in love. This edition comes from the 1916 Oxford University Press edition of all of Shakespeare’s plays and poems.

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Citation

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare), ed. with a glossary by W.J. Craig M.A. (Oxford University Press, 1916).

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Alexander Pope (Author)

A great poet in his own right, Pope also edited Shakespeare’s work, regularizing and “smoothing” it to accord with 18th century aesthetic judgements.

Giuseppe Verdi (Author)

Verdi’s opera Falstaff is largely based on The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Christopher Marlowe (Author)

Marlowe and Shakespeare were the top two poets and playwrights of their day. They referenced one another’s work and competed with and inspired each other.
Geoffrey Chaucer ()

The greatest English writer before Shakespeare, Chaucer pioneered the use of English, rather than French or Latin, for serious literary works. He also brought all classes of society onto the page together, particularly in his masterwork, The Canterbury Tales.

Critical Responses

Opera

Verdi’s Falstaff

San Francisco Opera

Verdi’s opera Falstaff is largely based on The Merry Wives of Windsor. It brings in some material from Shakespeare’s plays about Henry IV as well. Listen to some highlights from a recent production by the San Francisco opera.

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Painting

Portrait of Falstaff

Heinrich Fussli

Heinrich Fussli’s portrait of Falstaff after he has been tricked by the merry wives into hiding in a laundry basket full of dirty clothes.

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Connected Readings

Book

The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, vol. 4 (The Canterbury Tales)

Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer’s Miller’s Tale from the Canterbury Tales is a comic tale of wifely revenge that may remind readers of The Merry Wives of Windsor.

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Book

The First Part of King Henry the Fourth

William Shakespeare

The first part of Henry IV established Falstaff as a great comic character and theatrical invention.

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Seen by the Queen!

Folger Shakespeare Library

The title page to The Merry Wives of Windsor from 1602, indicates clearly that the play was performed in front of “Her Maiestie” Queen Elizabeth.

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Art

Herne’s Oak, Windsor Park

Samuel Ireland

An image of Herne’s Oak from about 1799. In the play, this is where Falstaff is tormented by children masquerading as fairies.

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