What is the underplot as shown in scenes ii. and iv and a part of scene i?
Do they appear to have anything to do with each other?
QUERIES FOR DISCUSSION
Which of her suitors does Anne prefer? Which is to be preferred?
Is the grievance of Shallow against Falstaffe a necessity of the plot to show the fat knight in love, or an episode introduced out of Shakespeare's grudge towards Sir Thomas Lucy? (See pp. 117-119, 138-141, etc., "First Folio Edition.")
THE STORY OF ACT II
THE MERRY WIVES AND FORD LAY PLOTS
In Act II a third under-intrigue that of Ford with Falstaffe is added to the two before introduced.
Show how the Merry Wives reveal their separate personalities in their reception of the duplicate letters, and their plot to dupe Falstaffe.
Contrast their two husbands as their natures and marital relations are shown by their different manner of taking the information given them by Nym and Pistol. Ford, considered as Shakespeare's first study of jealousy. How does he compare with Leontes?