# Scene III explained — The Merry Wives of Windsor

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

## What happens

Mistress Page and Mistress Ford coordinate their plan to humiliate Falstaff at Herne's Oak, while Mistress Page also arranges for Doctor Caius to elope with her daughter Anne, knowing her husband will be angry but preferring that to heartbreak.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Disguise

The wives plan to betray Falstaff with a fairy disguise, and Mistress Page secretly arranges for Doctor Caius to elope with Anne.

### Marriage and Courtship

Mistress Page orchestrates a marriage between Doctor Caius and her daughter Anne, reflecting parental control over courtship.

## Character check-ins

### Mistress Page

Arranges for Doctor Caius to take her daughter Anne in green to the deanery, and coordinates the fairy plot at Herne's Oak.

### Mistress Ford

Participates in the plan to betray and mock Falstaff at Herne's Oak.

### Doctor Caius

Receives instructions from Mistress Page to take Anne by the hand and elope to the deanery.

## Key lines

> My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff as he will chafe at the doctor’s marrying my daughter; but ’tis no matter; better a little chiding than a great deal of heart break.

My husband will be more angry about the doctor marrying our daughter than happy about Falstaff being tricked, but I don't care—a little scolding is better than a broken heart.

_Mistress Page acknowledges her husband's likely displeasure but prioritizes her daughter's happiness._

> Against such lewdsters and their lechery, Those that betray them do no treachery.

Against men like this who are lewd and lustful, betraying them is not an act of treachery.

_Mistress Page justifies their deception of Falstaff as morally righteous._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii
- 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