New Evidence Suggests Shakespeare Did Not Write The Merry Wives of Windsor
- The Merry Wives of Windsor offers strong evidence that Shakespeare was not its author, pointing to the 17th Earl of Oxford as the writer.
- The RSC's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor receives praise for its cartoonish and twittish adaptation.
- Overall, the credibility of Shakespeare as the true author of The Merry Wives of Windsor is being questioned.
The action in Merry Wives centers on an inn in Windsor, with accurate references to local geography and lore. The play's author, Edward de Vere, had a modern artistic consciousness and split his life story into three protagonist avatars - Fenton, Ford, and Falstaff. Fenton competes with a character resembling Philip Sidney for Anne's hand, while Ford struggles with jealousy. The play includes references to De Vere's personal life, such as underlined words in his Bible and associations with real-life figures like Hugh Evans. The production of The Merry Wives of Windsor features a portrayal of Falstaff as a fat old fool, with John Hodgkinson playing the role with a balance of predatory and sympathetic qualities. Hodgkinson's performance adds relish and heft to the character, making him physically comedic and entertaining.