Degraded Role of Women in The Merry Wives of Windsor In Shakespeare's play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, there are two plots that ultimately converge on the concept of marriage; one is the antics performed by the wives and the other is Anne Page's marriage. Both of these plots subversively produce a discouraging attitude towards the view of women within the opera. The wives in The Merry Wives of Windsor are not recognized so much beyond commodities that they are not entrusted to their own will, and are considered anonymous and degraded figures by men. By examining the use of the word "wife," the characters who use it most frequently, how it is used, and examining the text and surrounding context, one can come to these unfortunate conclusions with undoubted certainty. You quickly sense this notion in the very first scene of the opening act. Slender and Evan evaluate Anne Page's attributes in terms of the monetary value her dowry will confer on her fortunate husband; both conclude that "seven hundred pounds and chances are good presents" (1.1.58-9). This attitude sets the stage, so to speak, and suggests what significance women will have in the play. Although the wives are the ones manipulating the ensuing pranks, it seems that the men are actually in control; they extend their alacrity for business and judicial affairs (which is established first in Pistol and Falstaff's dispute with the others and then in Ford's settlement against Falstaff for the twenty pounds and the men's pretentious positions in Anne's affairs) to personal and marital affairs of women. Indeed, the details that drive the main plot of the work can, in themselves, be interpreted as a business transaction. ... half of the paper ... also shows this limitation and acknowledges that he once regarded Anne Page as property. Fenton reforms, however, and admits to Anne that he, "... has found you of greater value than gold stamps or sums sealed in bags; and this is your true wealth" (3.3.15-17). Considering the eccentricity of all the male characters enlivens the plot and increases the depth of the comedy. This analysis, paying particular attention to the use of the word "wife" by those who use it most and the entire context in which it appears, clarifies Shakespeare's conceptualization of the nature of men and marriage and demonstrates that women are valued only as anonymous goods. , not entrusted to one's own will and judgment in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works of Shakespeare, ed. David Bevington. Sixth edition. New York: Harper Collings, 1998.