Scene III explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Disguise

  Falstaff's plan to woo two married women under false pretenses and the counter-deception by Pistol and Nym to reveal his scheme.

• Lust and Its Consequences

  Falstaff's lust for the wives' wealth and beauty drives the plot, leading to threats of revenge and exposure.

Characters to notice

• Sir John Falstaff

  Plans to seduce Mistress Ford and Mistress Page for their wealth, dismisses Bardolph, and hires Robin to deliver letters after Pistol and Nym refuse.

• Host of the Garter

  Agrees to employ Bardolph as a tapster, speaking in playful, grandiose terms.

• Bardolph

  Leaves Falstaff's service to become a tapster at the Garter Inn.

• Pistol

  Refuses to deliver Falstaff's letter to Mistress Page and vows to expose Falstaff to Master Ford.

• Nym

  Refuses to deliver Falstaff's letter to Mistress Ford and plots revenge by informing Master Page.

Key passages

• “I do mean to make love to Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation; I can construe the action of her familiar style; and the hardest voice of her behaviour, to be Englished rightly, is 'I am Sir John Falstaff's.'”

  Falstaff claims Mistress Ford's behavior signals she is interested in him, so he plans to seduce her.

  Falstaff misinterprets polite social gestures as romantic invitation, revealing his arrogance.

• “I will be cheator to them both, and they shall be exchequers to me; they shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade to them both.”

  Falstaff intends to deceive both women for their money, treating them like wealthy colonies to exploit.

  Falstaff's mercenary view of romance, comparing the women to treasure-laden lands.

• “I will discuss the humour of this love to Page.”

  Nym plans to tell Master Page about Falstaff's intentions toward Mistress Page.

  Nym's revenge involves revealing Falstaff's plot to the husband.