# Scene I explained — The Merry Wives of Windsor

> Chapter companion for The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Falstaff, impatient with Mistress Quickly's prattling, sends her away and then meets with Master Ford disguised as Brook. He recounts his recent humiliation at the hands of Ford, who beat him while he was disguised as a woman, and vows revenge by delivering Mistress Ford into Brook's hands that night at Herne's oak.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Disguise

Falstaff disguises himself as a woman to escape Ford, and Ford himself is disguised as Brook, highlighting the pervasive use of disguise in the play.

### Jealousy and Trust

Ford's jealousy is described as a 'mad devil' that drives him to beat Falstaff, and Falstaff's plot to deliver Mistress Ford to Brook plays on this jealousy.

## Character check-ins

### Sir John Falstaff

Impatient with Mistress Quickly, recounts his beating by Ford while disguised as a woman, and plots revenge.

### Mistress Quickly

Briefly appears, offering to provide a chain and horns, before being dismissed by Falstaff.

### Master Ford

Disguised as Brook, he questions Falstaff about the previous day's meeting and is told of the plan for midnight at Herne's oak.

## Key lines

> I went to her, Master Brook, as you see, like a poor old man; but I came from her, Master Brook, like a poor old woman.

I went to her as an old man, but I left disguised as an old woman.

_Falstaff describes his escape from Ford's house in disguise._

> That same knave Ford, her husband, hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him, Master Brook, that ever governed frenzy.

That rascal Ford, her husband, has the most insane jealousy that ever controlled a madman.

_Falstaff characterizes Ford's jealousy as extreme and frenzied._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters