The Merry Wives of Windsor

by William Shakespeare

"The Merry Wives of Windsor" by William Shakespeare is a comedy first published in 1602. The corpulent knight Sir John Falstaff arrives in Windsor broke and schemes to seduce two wealthy married women for money. When the clever wives discover his identical love letters, they plot elaborate revenge while Falstaff's pride keeps him returning for more humiliation. Meanwhile, three suitors compete for the hand of Anne Page, leading to schemes and disguises that culminate in a moonlit forest spectacle involving the entire town.