The Merry Wives of Windsor

In Windsor, Justice Robert Shallow, a visiting justice of the peace from Gloucestershire, arrives with his nephew, Abraham Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson. Shallow fumes over Sir John Falstaff, who he claims trespassed onto his land, poached a deer, and beat his men. He vows to take Falstaff before the Council to see justice done. Sir Hugh attempts to calm the situation, urging reconciliation rather than escalation. To distract Shallow, Sir Hugh steers the conversation toward a possible marriage between Slender and Anne Page, daughter of the wealthy George Page. Anne inherits £700 from her grandfather, and her father intends to add to that sum, making her a very desirable match. Sir Hugh argues that Slender would benefit from the match, which also pleases Shallow, who is ambitious for his nephew’s advancement.

Together, they make their way to the Page household. Shallow greets Master George Page warmly, pretending friendliness despite his simmering anger about Falstaff. Page greets Shallow good-naturedly and even teases him by thanking him for the venison Falstaff stole. Slender attempts to engage in small talk by mocking Page’s recent loss at a greyhound race, but his awkward efforts fall flat, forcing Shallow to step in and smooth over the exchange.