“The Merry Wives of Windsor” is a comedy play written by William Shakespeare in the early 17th century. The play is set in the town of Windsor and follows the misadventures of Sir John Falstaff, a fat and disreputable knight who tries to seduce two wealthy married women, Mistress Ford, and Mistress Page, in an attempt to obtain their husbands’ money.
The play is notable for being one of Shakespeare’s only works to focus primarily on middle-class characters, rather than royalty or the nobility. It also features several memorable supporting characters, including the jealous and comically inept Master Ford, the bumbling and well-meaning Slender, and the Welsh parson Sir Hugh Evans.
“The Merry Wives of Windsor” is often considered one of Shakespeare’s lesser works, but it remains a popular play for its light-hearted tone, witty dialogue, and memorable characters.