# Sir Hugh Evans — The Merry Wives of Windsor character guide

> Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Hugh, Hugh Evans, Hugh

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

A Welsh parson and schoolmaster whose mangled vowels and genuine piety make him both the play's softest comic target and its most dogged peacemaker.

## Who they are

Evans moves between the pulpit, the schoolroom, and the drawing rooms of Windsor, forever trying to convert quarrels into compromises and suitors into husbands. He is earnest to a fault: he despises a liar as he despises one that is false, and he honestly believes seven hundred pounds and possibilities are good gifts worth a sermon. His mediation sets the marriage plot in motion, and his willingness to don horns as a fake satyr shows a clergyman game for mischief when the cause is right.

## Relationships

### [Anne Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/anne_page)

_friendship_

Sir Hugh Evans is Anne's Welsh tutor and a kindly mentor who supports her education and well-being.

### [Sir John Falstaff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_john_falstaff)

_rivalry_

Evans and Falstaff are comedic adversaries, with Evans helping to humiliate Falstaff in the forest scene.

### [Master Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/master_ford)

_friendship_

Ford and Evans are allies in the plot to expose Falstaff, working together for the common good.

### [Master Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/master_page)

_friendship_

Master Page and Sir Hugh Evans are friends and co-conspirators in the schemes against Falstaff.

### [Doctor Caius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/doctor_caius)

_rivalry_

Caius and Evans are rivals, initially challenging each other to a duel over honor and later competing for influence.

### [Anne Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/anne_page)

_friendship_

Sir Hugh Evans is Anne's Welsh tutor and a kindly mentor who supports her education and well-being.

### [Master Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/master_ford)

_friendship_

Ford and Evans are allies in the plot to expose Falstaff, working together for the common good.

### [Anne Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/anne_page)

_friendship_

Sir Hugh Evans is Anne's Welsh tutor and a kindly mentor who supports her education and well-being.

### [Sir John Falstaff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_john_falstaff)

_rivalry_

Evans and Falstaff are comedic adversaries, with Evans helping to humiliate Falstaff in the forest scene.

### [Master Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/master_page)

_friendship_

Master Page and Sir Hugh Evans are friends and co-conspirators in the schemes against Falstaff.

### [Sir John Falstaff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_john_falstaff)

_rivalry_

Evans and Falstaff are comedic adversaries, with Evans helping to humiliate Falstaff in the forest scene.

### [Doctor Caius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/doctor_caius)

_rivalry_

Caius and Evans are rivals, initially challenging each other to a duel over honor and later competing for influence.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Mediates between Shallow and Falstaff, and proposes the marriage between Slender and Anne Page.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Gives Simple a letter for Mistress Quickly to solicit Slender's desires to Anne Page.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Prepares for a duel with Doctor Caius, singing and reading; later reconciles and plots revenge.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

The schoolmaster who examines William on his Latin declensions and pronouns.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv)

Agrees to teach the children their fairy roles and will play a jack-an-apes to burn the knight with his taper.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v)

Warns the Host about the cozen-germans who have cheated other innkeepers.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv)

Disguised as a satyr in frieze and horns, leading the fairies and giving instructions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_hugh_evans
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters