In response to the public's desire to see Sir John Falstaff back on stage after his brusque dismissal by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part II and Henry V, Shakespeare crafts a comedic return for the character in The Merry Wives of Windsor. This play, a farcical satire, depicts the shrewd London burghers, the Fords and the Pages, outmaneuvering Falstaff, the aristocratic "not-so-sly fox" attempting to disrupt their conventional lives. The humor stems from Falstaff's futile attempts to outwit those who, despite their middle-class status, prove more cunning than he.

Shakespeare's comedy also provides a clever diversion reminiscent of the story in Romeo and Juliet. Falstaff's buffoonery inadvertently prevents a potential tragedy, allowing the love between Anne Page and Fenton—characters akin to a comic Romeo and Juliet—to blossom. This diversion is a testament to the role Falstaff often occupies in Shakespeare's works: the antithesis of the calculating Prince Hal, who meticulously orchestrates every aspect of his life, including leisure. In contrast, Falstaff embodies pure indulgence, pursuing pleasure and self-preservation with relentless enthusiasm. His escapades with Mistresses Page and Ford might parody the virtuous burgher lifestyle, yet they also convey his zest for "pleasure for its own sake"—a pursuit that results in a joyful outcome for all.

Ultimately, the play ensures that everyone emerges victorious in their pursuits. Anne is united with her beloved Fenton, while the Pages, the Fords, and Falstaff revel in the chaos. It is respectability that finds itself sidelined, drowned out by the raucous laughter of "Fat Jack" Falstaff. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare not only revives a beloved character but also celebrates the subversion of societal norms through humor and folly.