# Sir John Falstaff — The Merry Wives of Windsor character guide > Sir John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Falstaff, Sir John, John Falstaff, fat Falstaff **First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i ## Snapshot A mountainous, self-adoring knight who woos two Windsor wives with the same letter and believes his own flattery is irresistible. ## Who they are Falstaff arrives in Windsor short on money and long on self-regard, convinced that Mistress Ford and Mistress Page's households are ripe for plunder through seduction. His courtship is a masterpiece of oily improvisation, praising brows, gait, and farthingales while dodging the accusation that he loves them both. His vanity and appetite make him the perfect target for the wives' escalating humiliations, and his willingness to keep returning for more is the play's funniest and most damning engine. ## Relationships ### [Anne Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/anne_page) _psychological_ Falstaff attempts to seduce Anne for her money, but she outwits him and treats him as a comic nuisance. ### [Master Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/master_ford) _rivalry_ Ford, disguised as 'Master Brook,' manipulates Falstaff to test his wife's fidelity, leading to a bitter and comedic antagonism. ### [Doctor Caius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/doctor_caius) _rivalry_ Caius and Falstaff are comedic rivals, each pursuing Anne Page and clashing over honor and romance. ### [Sir Hugh Evans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_hugh_evans) _rivalry_ Evans and Falstaff are comedic adversaries, with Evans helping to humiliate Falstaff in the forest scene. ### [John Rugby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/john_rugby) _social_ John Rugby has minimal direct interaction with Falstaff, mostly as a servant in Caius's household. ### [Bardolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/bardolph) _professional_ Bardolph is one of Falstaff's disreputable followers, serving as his companion and accomplice in mischief. ### [Justice Shallow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/justice_shallow) _rivalry_ Justice Shallow is a pompous local official who clashes with Falstaff over money and respect. ### [Anne Page](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/anne_page) _psychological_ Falstaff attempts to seduce Anne for her money, but she outwits him and treats him as a comic nuisance. ### [Sir Hugh Evans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_hugh_evans) _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 Falstaff are comedic rivals, each pursuing Anne Page and clashing over honor and romance. ### [Master Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/master_ford) _rivalry_ Ford, disguised as 'Master Brook,' manipulates Falstaff to test his wife's fidelity, leading to a bitter and comedic antagonism. ### [Sir Hugh Evans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_hugh_evans) _rivalry_ Evans and Falstaff are comedic adversaries, with Evans helping to humiliate Falstaff in the forest scene. ## In the story ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Plans to seduce Mistress Ford and Mistress Page for their wealth, dismisses Bardolph, and hires Robin to deliver letters after Pistol and Nym refuse. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Receives the wives' messages and later accepts money from Master Brook, boasting of his planned seduction of Mistress Ford. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Attempts to seduce Mistress Ford but is forced to hide in a basket of foul linen to avoid discovery. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-v) Recounts his escape in a buck-basket and agrees to another meeting with Mistress Ford. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii) Visits Mistress Ford, hides in the buck-basket, and is later disguised as the fat woman of Brainford before being beaten out by Ford. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v) Complains of being cozened and beaten, and deceives Simple about the wise woman of Brainford. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Impatient with Mistress Quickly, recounts his beating by Ford while disguised as a woman, and plots revenge. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/chapters/act-v-scene-v) Publicly humiliated by the fairies at Herne's Oak; admits he was made an ass and acknowledges his guilt. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_merry_wives_of_windsor_se/characters/sir_john_falstaff - 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