The Merry Wives of Windsor, by William Shakespeare (c. 1597-1601)

In The Merry Wives of Windsor (c. 1597–1601), William Shakespeare brings back the boastful, scheming Sir John Falstaff for a lively comedy of romantic mischief, jealousy, and revenge. Short on money and overflowing with confidence, Falstaff decides to court two wealthy married women at the same time, only to discover that Mistress Ford and Mistress Page are more than capable of turning his scheme against him. As they devise increasingly elaborate ways to humiliate their would-be seducer, jealous husbands, young lovers, eccentric suitors, and colorful townspeople become entangled in the chaos. In this episode, we explore Shakespeare's distinctly English comedy of middle-class life, the unforgettable downfall of Falstaff's grand plans, and how The Merry Wives of Windsor turns deception, marriage, and wounded pride into one of Shakespeare's most playful farces.