The Merry Wives of Windsor

For my second book I chose The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare. In the entire play there was an enormous amount of dramatic irony. The audience knew that Falstaff was being tricked by Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. Falstaff tried to make money off of both women by sending them both identical letters. The purpose of his letters were to seduce both of the women, so much so that they would give him power over their husbands' wealth. When both women find out that they got the same letter, Mistress Ford goes to Mistress Page's house and tells her about the atrocious letter. From that moment on, they make a plan to get back at Falstaff by making him believe that his "seducing" is working. Mistress Ford tells Falstaff that she would love to take him up on his offer. All the while, Mistress Page's daughter, Ann Page, is trying to be won over by Dr. Caius, Fenton and Slender. Mistress Page wants Ann to marry Dr.Caius while Mr. Page wants Ann to marry Slender; however, Fenton is the one she really wants to marry.

When Master Ford finds out that his wife might be having an affair with Falstaff, he tries to find any way to prevent it, or at least find out everything that's going on. He makes up an alter ego named Brooke and goes to find Falstaff, he offers him a lot of money and tells him that he wants to know every little detail because he's been in love with Mistress Ford since high school. Falstaff, thinking seeing only money signs, agrees and promises to tell Brooke everything, he tells him that he's going to Mistress Ford's house that afternoon. When Master Ford hears this, he rallies up a lot of men and tells them that Falstaff is in his house having an affair with his wife.

Meanwhile Mistress Ford is at her house with Mistress Page trying to plan what's going to happen when Falstaff gets there. When Falstaff does actually get there he tries his hardest to seduce Mistress Ford. When Mistress Page comes back to tell Mistress Ford that the men are coming to the house, Mistress Ford hurriedly goes towards the door and opens it. She tells her that the men are on their way to the house and that if Falstaff doesn't get out of there quickly he's going to be killed. Falstaff ends up running out of hiding and runs into a big laundary basket. They pull him out of the house as soon as the men come in. Mistress Ford and Mistress Page just sit around and say that they were just home all day talking.

The whole play goes on to talk about how Falstaff finally learns his lesson when both Master and Mistress Ford and Master and Mistress Page pull a huge prank on Falstaff making him look like a fool. Ann Page ends up choosing Fenton while both Dr. Caius and Slender end up being tricked into marrying guys.

The play uses dramatic irony to the fullest, none of the characters knew what was really happening until the end, and in the end they all learn their lessons.