Sir John Falstaff is an impoverished, overweight, and opportunistic knight who arrives in Windsor with his unruly entourage. Seeking to repair his ruined finances, he plots to seduce two wealthy middle-class wives, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, hoping to gain access to their husbands' money. He relies heavily on his self-justifying rhetoric and arrogant swagger to intimidate others.

Mistress Page is a respectable, middle-class wife in Windsor known for her practical intelligence. When she receives an arrogant love letter from Sir John Falstaff, she immediately recognizes the insult to her household and coordinates with her friend to stage elaborate counterplots. In matters of family, she favors Doctor Caius as a suitor for her daughter due to his professional status.

Mistress Ford is a clever and prudent middle-class wife who joins her friend Mistress Page in plotting against Sir John Falstaff after receiving an identical inappropriate letter. She is highly aware of her husband's jealous nature and carefully calibrates her actions to defend her reputation while participating in the communal pranks.

Master Page is the affable, trusting, and hospitable husband of Mistress Page. Unlike his jealous counterpart Master Ford, he responds to rumors with composure and completely trusts his wife's fidelity. As a father, he evaluates his daughter's suitors based on financial security and social respectability, strongly favoring Abraham Slender.

Master Ford is the anxious and deeply jealous husband of Mistress Ford. Convinced that his household's reputation is constantly under threat, he reacts to warnings of Falstaff's intentions with extreme suspicion. He adopts the alias "Brook" to secretly test his wife's virtue, creating chaos in his own home.

Sir Hugh Evans is a Welsh parson and schoolmaster whose thick accent often makes him the target of lighthearted mockery. Despite his linguistic quirks, he is a force for civic order and mediation, actively promoting a marriage match between Slender and Anne Page to distract from local disputes.

Anne is the well-dowered daughter of Master and Mistress Page. Surrounded by three competing suitors—Slender, Caius, and Fenton—she quietly navigates her parents' conflicting matchmaking schemes while privately evaluating her own romantic preferences.

Mistress Quickly is the bustling housekeeper to Doctor Caius and a highly effective go-between for the town's residents. She manipulates her informal position by accepting money to advocate for all three of Anne Page's suitors, while also facilitating communication between the wives and Falstaff.

Justice Shallow is a visiting justice of the peace from Gloucestershire whose formal authority is undercut by his vanity. He enters the story seeking legal retribution against Falstaff but is easily intimidated by the knight's bravado. He shifts his focus to securing a wealthy marriage for his nephew.

Slender is Justice Shallow's dim-witted and awkward nephew. Pushed into courting Anne Page by his uncle and Sir Hugh Evans, he lacks genuine romantic inclination. He views the potential marriage purely as a transfer of property and social advantage, relying on others to speak for him.

Doctor Caius is a hot-tempered French physician residing in Windsor. He is deeply jealous of his status as one of Anne Page's suitors and is quick to challenge rivals to a duel, prioritizing competition and his own pride over genuine affection.

Fenton is an impoverished aristocrat courting Anne Page. Though he admits his initial interest was sparked by her substantial dowry, he develops genuine affection for her. He faces strong opposition from Anne's father, who disapproves of his past association with wild company.

The Host is the jovial and mischievous proprietor of the local inn. He enjoys managing the town's social dynamics, notably tricking the dueling Doctor Caius and Sir Hugh Evans to prevent bloodshed and providing Falstaff with lodging.

Bardolph is one of Falstaff's roguish followers. When Falstaff's finances dwindle, Bardolph readily accepts a new position as a tapster at the Garter Inn, escaping his master's precarious household.

Pistol is a follower of Falstaff who refuses to deliver the knight's insulting love letters. Humiliated by his subsequent dismissal, he seeks revenge by warning Master Ford of the seduction plot.

Nym is a follower of Falstaff who, like Pistol, rejects the task of delivering the love letters. He attempts to expose Falstaff's schemes by warning Master Page, seeking personal vengeance for his dismissal.

Robin is Sir John Falstaff's young page. He is assigned to deliver his master's love letters after the older retainers refuse the task.

Simple is the earnest but easily confused servant of Abraham Slender. He is dispatched to enlist Mistress Quickly's help in advancing his master's courtship of Anne Page.

Rugby is the servant to the French physician Doctor Caius, often caught in the wake of his master's sudden outbursts and dueling preparations.

William is the young son of Master and Mistress Page. He is a student of Sir Hugh Evans and is subjected to an impromptu Latin drill on his way to play.