The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor depicts a society in which ideas of power are in flux. Friction between the middle and upper classes, as well as between men and women, underpins the play’s various conflicts, as multiple characters contest traditional power centers. Ultimately, however, the play’s resistance is not revolutionary; instead of abolishing power, it redefines it in practical terms, in keeping with the norms and values of the emerging middle class. The play suggests that those with authority should be those with the highest levels of competence.

This redefinition plays out in large part through its treatment of language. The play tests one status marker by giving absolute authority to characters whose speech sits outside the prestige register. Sir Hugh’s Welsh accent “pribbles,” yet he claims the town’s attention because he organizes rehearsals, keeps time, and tells the truth plainly. Mistress Quickly’s malapropisms invite laughter, but her courier work makes plots start on time; as Fairy Queen, she becomes the public voice of correction. By contrast, those who claim authority through verbal show (Shallow’s bombast, Falstaff’s mythic lists, Ford’s soliloquies) move nothing unless others carry out the work.