Garg 1

Rishi Garg

Mr. Ruff

DP 1 English A1

3 December 2008

Shakespeare Logs: The Merry Wives of Windsor

Entry 1 – Act I, Scene iii

Summarize the action of the scene.

The scene begins with Falstaff calling the attention of the Host. Falstaff tells the host that

he must, unfortunately, dismiss one of his servants. He then tells Bardolph to follow the Host and

become his employee. After a few jests by Pistol and Nym, Falstaff reveals his plan to them. He

begins by describing his belief that Mistress Ford is in love with him. Pistol and Nym exchange

jokes about Falstaff quietly amongst themselves. “Then did the sun on dunghill shine” (1.3.63-

64), jests Pistol. Falstaff shows that he has written love letters to both Mistress Ford and Mistress

Page. He explains that he is planning to steal money from them, and asks for Pistol and Nym to

deliver the letters. Pistol and Nym refuse, so Falstaff gives the letters to his page to deliver. He

exits. Pistol and Nym talk about how disgusted they are by Falstaff, and plot revenge upon him.

Nym suggests that they tell Ford about Falstaff‟s plan, and Pistol agrees.

Entry 2 – Act II, Scene iii

Pretend that you are an actor preparing to play the scene. What would your motivations be?

What would you focus on? What would your delivery emphasize? Why would you make those

choices?

The question is quite unclear on which character I would be playing. However, I will

answer the question from the perspective of the director, will all of the characters of the scene in
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mind. The scene as a whole is, more or less, a joke upon Doctor Caius by the other characters. It

begins with the Doctor complaining about Sir Hugh not coming. He then tries to show his

servant, Jack Rugby, how he would have killed Sir Hugh. In this portion of the scene, I would

have Doctor Caius first act impatient, and then suddenly change his attitude to one of great

exuberance and complacency. Jack Rugby should act “small”, as if he is very unimportant and

unassuming. When Page, Shallow, Slender, and Host enter, Doctor Caius should act surprised

and a little bit suspicious of their intentions. “Vat be all you, one, two, tree, four, come for?”

(2.3.22-23) should sound slightly mistrustful. Page, Shallow, and Slender should act as if they

are simply enjoying a day outside. In fact, Shallow might even act a bit serious when he is

talking about his suppressed urge to swordfight. From lines 57-71 the Host is playing making fun

of Doctor Caius, unbeknownst to the Doctor. The Host should act completely serious, with no

hint of a smile or laugh, in order to fully make use of the comedic effect. Every time Doctor

Caius “learns” a new phrase from the Host, he should behave as if he is truly enjoying learning

new words. He should use the new words with great enthusiasm and self-confidence. “By gar,

me do look he shall clapper-de-claw me, for, by gar, me vill have it” (2.3.68-69) is one of the

funniest lines of the scene.

Overall, my main motivation in this scene would be the fact that the Host makes such a

great fool of Doctor Caius without the Doctor noticing at all. This scene is not very integral to

the rest of the play in regards to plot, so I focus my efforts on making the audience laugh.

Entry 3 – Act III, Scene i

Ask five (or more) analytical questions about the scene. Answer two of them.

1. After having such vicious thoughts for each other, why do Sir Hugh and Doctor Caius
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suddenly bond together as allies?

When the reader first reads the scene, he is confused as to why Sir Hugh and Doctor

Caius become allies rather than hacking each other to pieces. “I will knog his urinals about

his knave‟s costard when I have good opportunities for the „ork” (3.1.13-15), says Sir Hugh

excitedly at the beginning of the scene. However, quite contrary to Sir Hugh‟s stated

intentions, he is friendly with Doctor Caius when they finally meet. He says aside to the

Doctor, “I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or another make you amends” (3.1.86-

88). The reader is very confused by this radical change in Sir Hugh‟s attitude.

Sir Hugh‟s intentions are not actually as they seem. Shakespeare places subtle hints

throughout the first half of the scene to advise the reader that Sir Hugh is in fact quite

terrified of the upcoming duel. Early in the scene, he lets slip the words “Pless my soul, how

full of cholers I am, and trempling of mind!” (3.1.11). „Trempling‟ is most likely Sir Hugh‟s

mistaken pronunciation of „trembling‟, by which he means that he is full of trepidation. In

addition, he says “I shall be glad if he have deceived me” (3.1.12-13). By this, Sir Hugh

clearly means that he would be relieved if Doctor Caius did not appear at all. Shakespeare

places another hint when Sir Hugh says “Mercy on me, I have a great dispositions to cry”

(3.1.21). Sir Hugh believes that he is in a great deal of trouble. Lastly, when Sir Hugh asks

“Heaven prosper the right! What weapons is he?” (3.1.30), he wants to know how well-

armed his opponent is, as would an inexperienced and nervous fighter. Sir Hugh is largely

frightened and scared of the forecasted duel, and wishes that it would not happen. When he

does meet Doctor Caius, he is immediately willing to call a truce and become allies in order

to prevent any bodily harm to himself.

2. What are Page‟s intentions for disarming Sir Hugh and Doctor Caius?

3. Is there any practical purpose for Slender‟s only words in the scene being “Ah, sweet Anne
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Page” (3.1.40) or something similar?

4. Why does the Host state his selfish intentions for bringing Sir Hugh and Doctor Caius out

loud (3.1.99-111) so everyone can hear?

In lines 3.1.99-104, the Host states his reasons for keeping Sir Hugh and Doctor Caius

from fighting. He wants them both to stay alive because each one provides an important

service for him. The Host says that Doctor Caius gives him medicines and Sir Hugh teaches

him proverbs. He strongly believes that his intentions are noble and of great importance to

everyone. When he says “Am I politic?” (3.1.99-100), Shakespeare uses „politic‟ as a

synonym for „diplomatic‟, which means that the Host believes he is doing what is best for

everyone. This leads the reader to believe that the Host is simply a very selfish and pompous

man. This is true, and it is proved further when the Host says “Am I a Machiavel?” (3.1.100).

The Host is comparing himself to one of the greatest men of all time, Machiavelli.

Shakespeare‟s use of the word „subtle‟ when the Host says “Am I subtle?” (3.1.100) is quite

interesting. If the answer to his question is the same as the answer to his other two questions,

the Host does indeed think he is subtle in his ways. However, in stating all of his previously

hidden intentions out loud, he is being the exact opposite of subtle. Shakespeare uses this

double-meaning of the word to show the reader how much of an idiot the Host really is.

5. Doctor Caius originally challenged Sir Hugh to a duel (1.4.114). Why are they both upset

with the Host for supposedly making fools of them?

Entry 4 – Act IV, Scene vi

Rewrite (don’t just summarize) a significant speech in your own words.

Fenton‟s speech, lines 4.6.8-45 and 4.6.47-51:

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Every now and then I‟ve told you

About the love I have for Anne Page,

Who has reciprocated my love,

To the extent that she might be able to choose for herself,

Which is what I wish. I have a letter from her

At which you may be surprised,

The concepts she wrote about are so similar to my ideas

That neither can be shown individually

Without showing both. Fat Falstaff

Has a great role; the form of the joke

I‟ll show you here in detail.

Here, my good Host:

Tonight at Herne‟s oak, just between twelve and one o‟clock,

My sweet Anne must pretend to be the Fairy Queen –

I‟ll explain why later – in which disguise,

While some practical jokes are going on,

Her father has ordered her to run off

With Slender, and marry him immediately at Eton.

She has agreed. Now, sir,

Her mother, objecting to that plan

And favoring Doctor Caius, has planned

That he will similarly take her away,

While all the practical jokes are taking place,

He will marry her at the priest‟s home

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Immediately. In regards to her mother‟s plot

She, to all appearances obedient, has

Promised to marry the doctor as well. Now, here‟s how it will actually happen:

Her father is expecting her to be dressed in white,

And knowing that, when Slender‟s time comes,

To take her by the hand,

She will supposedly go with him. Her mother has intended

To have her marry the doctor –

They will all be masked –

While she is dressed in green,

With ribbons wrapped around her head;

And when the doctor sees her,

He is expected to grab her by the hand, and hearing that

Anne has agreed to go with him.

(Who does she mean to deceive, her father or her mother? – Host)

Both, my good Host, she‟ll come with me.

And here‟s how it will go: you‟ll arrange for the priest

To be at the church between twelve and one,

And, in the lawful name of marrying,

To give Anne and my hearts united ceremony.

Entry 5 – Act V, Scene v

Quote three (or more) lines from the text and discuss why the quote seemed important, or why

the quote stood out from the crowd of other words.

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“Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy, lest he transform me to a piece of cheese.” (5.5.86-

87)

“I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass.” (5.5.126)

These two quotes stood out for the same reason – Falstaff‟s oblivion to the general world

around him. When he says the first quote, he is surrounded by the “fairies”, and he is afraid that

they might harm him. Sir Hugh is dressed up as one of the fairies, and, being Welsh, speaks with

a strong Welsh accent. Falstaff hears the accent and does not think past it; he just assumes the

fairy is Welsh, and nothing more is going on. He does not think deeply and realize that it would

be ridiculous for a fairy to have a Welsh accent, and that the most reasonable explanation is that

a Welsh person is pretending to be a fairy. Just before he says the second quote, the people

dressed as fairies have revealed themselves and told him that it was all a joke. In fact, they even

went so far to poke fun at Falstaff. He just then begins to realize that the fairies were not real,

and that he has been made a fool. Any ordinary person would have come to that realization much

earlier than Falstaff did. Both of these quotes are further proof that Falstaff is a blundering fool,

and are prime examples of Shakespeare‟s ability to make the reader laugh.

“Sir John Falstaff, serve Got and leave your desires, and fairies will not pinse you.” (5.5.136-

137)

This quote is slightly more serious than the last two. Sir Hugh is telling Falstaff to change

his ways. He suggests that Falstaff believe in religion and stop desiring superficial things. It is

apparent that Sir Hugh is trying to be serious in his statement by the fact that he addresses

Falstaff as „Sir John Falstaff‟. However, he ends his sentence with a metaphor that completely

ruins his meaning. By relating life‟s natural punishments to fairies‟ pinches, Sir Hugh turned his
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statement into a bit of a joke. Shakespeare makes the joke even more evident with Ford‟s

subsequent statement: “Well said, Fairy Hugh.” (5.5.138). Ford notices Sir Hugh‟s mistaken

choice of words and pokes fun at him for it. Sir Hugh‟s intentions are good – Falstaff should

indeed follow his suggestion – but the phrasing of his suggestion could be better. This quote

shows Shakespeare‟s clever mix of seriousness with humor that is ever-present throughout the

play.

“You would have married her most shamefully, where there was no proportion held in love.”

(5.5.228-229)

These lines are said by Fenton to Page and Mistress Page. He is referring to the proposed

marriages of Anne Page by her parents. Each one of her parents wanted her to marry a different

man. Page wanted Anne to marry Slender, and Mistress Page wanted Anne to marry Doctor

Caius. However, her parents neither conferred with each other, nor asked Anne for her opinion.

Fenton is pointing out the fact that Anne did not particularly love either of the two suitors. He is

saying that a marriage between Anne and either of the two men would have been disgraceful to

the name of love and marriage. This quote really stood out from the other lines because it is one

of Shakespeare‟s true beliefs. It is apparent from his plays that he believes love to be something

that is immortal and should be highly regarded. The entirety of Romeo and Juliet is an example

of his belief. Although Shakespeare enjoys creating awkward and funny situations with lust, he

never jokes around with true love. This quote stood out from the previous lines as one of the few

lines with a serious meaning behind them.