Kobe Shoin Women’s University Repository
Title
Who's a Cuckold Now? : Cuckoldry in The Merry
Wives of Windsor
Author(s)
Ronald St. Pierre
Citation
Shoin Literary Review，No.21：103-122
Issue Date
1987
Resource Type
Bulletin Paper / 紀要論文
Resource Version
URL
Right
"Who's
a Cuckold Now?"
Cuckoldry
in The Merry
Wives
of
Windsor
Ronald St.
Pierre
ByShakespeare'stime,thehornedcuckold,hiswifeandher paramourhadacquiredacomplexofideas,injunctions,stereotypesand ethicalnotionswhichprovidedRenaissancewriterswithasupplyof stockcharactersandsituations,prejudicesandsaws,tolerancesand condemnationsfromwhichtodrawwhenwritingcuckoldstories. Shakespearetoodrewfromthecuckoldtraditionespeciallyinfour plays:TheMerryWivesofWindsor,Othello,Cymbeline,andThe Winter'sTale.Thefirstoftheseplays,TheMerryWivesofWindsor, canbenefitgreatlybyexaminingitsrelationshiptothecuckoldtradi- tion.SuchastudywillhelpfulfillJeanneAddisonRobert'scalltore-examineTheMerryu物 θs,aligningitmoreaccuratelytobothliterary traditionandtoShakespeare'scanon.①OfShakespeare'scuckold Plays,The、Merryレ レ'fivesistheonlyonetotreatcuckoldryinafully comicway.Assuchtheplaydefiesthewarningexpressedinthe SecondLord'ssonginAsYouLikeIt (1)JeanneAddisonRobert,Shakespeare'sEnglishComedy:"TheMerryWivesof Windsor"inContext(Lincoln:UniversityofNebraskaPress,1979),p.xi, callsforandbeginsaprocessofre-evaluationofTheMerryWivesinorder toresurrectitscriticalesteem.Robert'sbookandCopeliaKahn's"`The SavageYoke':CuckoldryandMarriage,"inMan'sEs-ate:MasculineIden-tityinShakespeare(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1981)arethe mostimportantdiscussionsofTheMerryWivesandthecuckoldtradition. -103一Takethounoscorntowearthehorn, Itwasacresterethouavastborn;i Thyfatherworeit, Andthyfather'sfatherworeit; Andthyfatherboreit, Thehorn,thehorn,thelustyhorn Isnotathingtolaughtoscorn.ユ2》I TheMerryWiveslaughstoscornthelustyhornandaffirmsthatthe l°rerepresentedbythesymb°l°ftheh°rn,cuck°ldry,ischimerical, bornofmasculinelust,insecurityandgreed,nurturedbymalejealousy, distrustandblindness.Mrs.Page,speakingofthefinalbaitingof Falstaffsays,"Thetruthbeingknown,/We'llallpresentourselves; dishornthespirit,/AndmockhimhometoWindsor"(IV,iv.63-65). Robertstellsus"`Dis-horningthespirit'"means,amongotherthings, "thefinalexorcisingofthespectreofcuckoldry;'(3)butinawidersense i TheMerryWivesasawholetendstoreverseordissolvetheanti-feministtenetsofcuckoldrybyrevealingwivestobefaithful,husbands uncuckolded,andlustywould-beparamoursfoolish,hornedandworth-ilychastized. ThesecondstoryfromthefirstdayofGiovarini'sIlPecorone,a possiblesourceofShakespeare'splay,{4)willprovideanepitomeofthe loreofcuckoldryandshowhowShakespearealteredthestereotypesof (Z}WilliamShakespeare,AsYauLikeIt(IV.ii.13-18).Al]quotationsfromi Shakespearearetakenfrom7'heRiversideShakespeare,ed.G.Blakemore Evans(Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1974).Hereafterlinenumberswillbe indicatedinthetext. (3)Roberts,p.77. (4)G.Bullough,ハBarra'iveandDramati`SourcesげShakespeare,voL2(London: RoutledgeandKeganPau1,1957-1963).AllquotationsfromIlPecoronecome fromthisvolumeandhereafterpagenumberswillbeindicatedinthetext. -104一
thecuckoldtradition.Inthetale,loveisportrayedasasuperficialart or"discipline"divorcedfrommarriage.Bucciuolo,theparamour,looks atloveasaliberalsciencewhichcanbetaught,andthecuckoldly Professor'swillingnesstoteachtheartoflovesuggestshetooseesit assuch.Theartofcoveherehasnothingtodowithmarriage. Marriageisneitheranendofnoranobstacletomakinglove.Loveis simplytheartofseduction.Bucciuolofollowshisinstructionsandthe Professor'swife,Giovanna,reactspredictably.Thoughshefeigns moralindignationatfirst,sheyieldswillinglysoonafter.Whenfirst approachedbythepedlarwomanwhoservesasBucciuolo'spandar, Giovannapretendstoresenttheoldwoman'spresumptuousness,calling God'sjudgmentuponherandchasingherfromthehouse(21).But Giovanna'sindignationissoonrevealedtobefeigned;forsheisquick tosendhermaidtoBucciuoloofferinghimaneveningofdelight.Later, whentheProfessorentershishouseinsearchofBucciuolo,Giovanna againappealstoGodinsuchawayastorevealthedeepcontradiction betweenherinnerlifeandheroutwardprofession."Crossyourselfmy husband,"shesays,"forsurelytheEnemyofGadhastemptedyouand causedyoutoseewhatcouldneverreallybe"(23).Ironically,itis Giovannawhohasbeentemptedandisabouttodowhatshehasjust claimed"couldneverreallybe." ThelengthstowhichGiovannawouldgotoprotectherreputation whileretainingherparamourincludeallowingherhusbandtobe chainedup"likeamadman"(25),andpleadingwithBucciuolotostay inRomeratherthanfollowhistutor'sdyingwishtoleave"inGod's name"(26).Butintheend,BucciuolodoesleaveRomesoasnotto furtherwrongthetutortowhomheowessomuch. Giovanna'shypocrisyinvolvesakeencontrastbetweenherprofes- sionsofgodlinessandfaith,andheractualself-indulgenceandlustful--105一
ness.Likemostofthewivesinthecuckoldtradition,sheusesher
abundantwittohornherhusbandwithimpunity.Instarkcontrastto
Mrs.Ford,Giovanna'seagersexualitymoveshertowrongherhusband
andmakesherpredictable.TheProfessortooactspredictably.He
becomesjealous,seeksrevenge,isthwartedandgoeshornmad.He
exhibitsadoublestandard,willingatfirstwithoutqualmstoinstructa
youngmanintheartoflove,essentiallytheartofcuckoldry,butis
outragedwhenhefindsitishimselfwhoisbeingwronged.The
situationisatwistofthewittolthemeaccordingtowhichthehusband
isinstrumentalinaidingadultererstohiswife.
Uncharacteristicsympathyiselicitedintheendforthemaddened
husband,whilethewifeisportrayedasdesperatelyneedingthepar-amour,andtheparamourrealizinghehaswrongedhisowntutor
retreatsrepentantly.ThestorythatprecedesthisoneinIlPecorone
hasasimilarthemeinwhichayoungmanrefusestocuckoldahusband
towhomheowesapersonaldebt.Adulteryinthesestoriesisdepicted
aswrongonlywhenitinvolveshorningamanwhohadhelpedthe
paramourinsomevaluableandpersonalway.Cuckoldryaloneseems
aharmlesspastime,apracticewhichhasruleswhichiffollowed
produceappropriateandpredictableresults.
InIlPecoronethecentralconflictinvolvesthetensionthatarises
betweentheharmlessfun,perhapseventhejustice,indishonoringa
wittolandthemoralgravityandclearinjusticeinvolvedindishonoring
areveredprofessor.Shakespeare'splayomitsthisconflict.Thereis
noreasonFalstaffshouldnotcuckoldFordmorethananyotherman.
Thedesiretocommitadulteryitselfissufficientlyreprehensibleto
justifytheshameceremonyFalstaffenduresattheendoftheplay.
Bucciuoloisabashednotbecausehehascommittedadultery,but
becausehehaswrongedamantowhomheowesparticularreverence.
-i46
Eveninhisprivateembarrassmentandregret,intermsofthestory, Bucciuoloisnotparticularlyculpable,andcertainlynotfortheactof.. adulteryperse.Ontheotherhand,Falstaff'sevilintentandhis presumptionsthemselvesareblamable,deservingpublicridiculeand censure.IlPecoronedepictscuckoldryasaharmlessanddiverting study,andwomenasclever,faithlessandeasilywooed.Shakespeare adjuststhethrustofIlPecorone'splottoredefinecuckoldry,showing thefearofbeingcuckoldedtobefoolish,wivesfaithfulandwould-be paramoursmorallyreprehensible. ThoughbothFalstaffandFordinTheMerryWivesbehavein stereotypicalfashion,thewivesdonotfollowbehavorialpatterns typicalofwiveslikeGiovanna.Shakespeare'saudience,considering theirknowledgeofFalstaff'susuallyeffectiveingenuityandtheir experiencewithwivesinthecuckoldtradition,wouldinallprobability expectthemerrywivestofall.Nevertheless,Shakespearemanagesto beliethisanti-feministstereotypekeepingtheplayfreefromallsugges-tionsthatcuckoldryissomethingtobzfeared.TheMerryWivesshows thestereotypesbeingapplied,butunjustly.Fordmaybejealous,buthe hasnoreasontobe.Hisjealousyispartofhischaracternotareaction tohiswife'scharacter.Ford'sjealoustemperamentisfirstindicated whenMrs.FordandMrs.PagepledgetoberevengedonFalstaff Mrs.Ford:Nay,Iwillconsenttoactanyvillainyagainsthim, thatmaynotsullythecharinessofourhonesty.Othatmy husbandsawthisletter!Itwouldgiveeternalfoodtohis jealousy. Mrs.Page:Why,lookwherehecomes:andmygoodmantoo. He'sasfarfromjealousyasIamfromgivinghimcause, andthat{Ihope)isanunmeasurabledistance. 一一一107一
Mrs.Ford:Youarethehappierwoman.
(II.i.98-106)
AlthoughMrs.FordisanxioustoberevengedonFalstaffforpresum-ingherdishonest,sheisstillcharyofherhonor.Shewilldonothingto
callher"honesty"inquestion.Shecombinesakeensenseofpersonal
integrity,respectforherreputationandamerry,almostmischievous,
willingnesstodisciplinethepresumptionsofthewould-becuckold-makerFalstaff.
Mrs.Ford'sandMrs.Page'strustworthinesssurvivesdespitetheir
husbands'resemblancestothetraditionaljailorandcomplaisant
wittols,menwhoseparticularfaultsoftenthrusttheirwivesintothe
armsofothermen:theformerbyhisexcessivejealousy,thelatterby
hisremarkablelackofjealousy.ThecontrastbetweenFord'sjealousy
andPage'sconfidenceisdevelopedintheplaywhenPistolandNym
revealtothehusbandsFalstaff'sillicitresolve;theirreactions,set
backtoback,exposetheirwittolydispositions
Ford:IwillseekoutFalstaff.
Page;Ineverheardsuchadrawling,affectingrogueCNym,that
lS]...
Page:Ifheshouldintendthisvoyagetowardmywife,Iwould
turnherloosetohim;andwhathegetsmorethansharp
wordsletitlieonmyhead.
Ford:Idonotmisdoubtmywife;butIwouldbeloathtoturn
themtogether.Amanmaybetooconfident.Iwould
nothinglieonmyhead.Icannotbethussatisfied.
{II.i.140-142,181-188)
1:
Thesespeechesechothesentimentsofcountlesswittolyhusbands. ShakespearecouldexpecthisaudiencetoanticipateForddrivinghis wifetowrongdoingbytormentingherwithsuspicionsandprovoking hertofindrelieffromhisvexationsinthearmsofaparamourc5>Also theaudiencewouldanticipatePagewittolythrustinghiswifeintothe armsofaparamour,confidentthatshewouldnotwronghim.⑥Both theseexpectations,ofcourse,arefrustratedbyShakespeare.The thrustofthisplaywillbetoconvertFord'sbeliefintheloreof cuckoldrytoPage'sfaithintheloreoftrust.InTheMerryWives cuckoldryexistsonlyinthemindsofitsmen,neverintheactsor desiresofitswomen.Forthesewives,cuckoldryis,inGiovanna's words,somethingthat"couldneverreallybe."Instead,cuckoldryisa seriesoftermsandmetaphorsthathaunt,teaseandtorment,butnever materialize. Ford'sjealousyischaracterizedbysuchahauntingthatdriveshim hornmad.InhissoliloquythatfollowshisinterviewwithFalstaff, Fordrevealshowmuchtheideaofbeingcalled"cuckold"and"wittol" agonizeshim Myheartisreadytocrackwithimpatience.Whosaysthisis improvidentjealousy?Mywifehathsenttohim,thehouris (5}SuchisthecasewithTofanowhosejealousycauseshiswifetobecomeso resentfulshedevisesastratagembywhichshemightgiveherhusband"cause enoughtodieofthatevilwhichwithoutcausehesomuchdreaded." GiovanniBoccaccio,TheDecameron,Day7,Novel4,trans.J.M.Riss,Vol. 1(London:Dent,1930). (6)AsisthecasewithMesserFrancescoVergellisiwhoissoconfidentofhis wife'sobediencehegivesthefineandfoopishZimaafreeconferencewithher resulting,unknowlinglytothewittolyVergellisi,in"seasonsnotafew" throughwhichcuckoldrythrives.GiovanniBoccaccio,TheDecameron,Day 3,Novel6,trans.J.M.Riss,Vol.1(London:Dent,1930). -109一
fix'd,thematchismade.Wouldanymanhavethis?Seethehell ofhavingafalsewoman!Mybedshalbeabus'd,mycoffers ransack'dmyreputationgnawnat,andIshallnotonlyreceive thisvillainouswrong,butstandundertheadoptionofabomina-bleterms,andbyhimthatdoesmethiswrong.Terms!names1 Amiamonsoundswell;Lucifer,well;Barbason,well;yetthey aredevil'sadditions,thenamesoffiends;butCuckold!Wittol! ...Cuckold!thedevilhimselfbathnotsuchaname. (II.ii.287-300} ThoughFordagonizesoverhavinghisbedabused,hiscoffersrobbed andhisreputationdamaged,helingersontheideathatFalstaffwho willdohimthesewrongswillcallhim"cuckold"and"wittol."Thehell ofhavingafalsewifemaytakefromhimhischastebed,hiswealthand hisgoodreputation,butFalstaff'suseofthelanguageofcuckoldrywill provideFordwithanappellationmoreshamefulthanthedevils'.As Ford'sspeechcontinues,hisbeliefinstereotypesingeneralbecomes evident Pageisanass,asecureass;hewilltrusthiswife,hewillnotbe jealous.IwillrathertrustaFlemingwithmybutter,Parson HughtheWelshmanwithmycheese,anIrishmanwithmyaqua -vitaebottle ,orathieftowalkmyamblinggelding,thanmy wifewithherself.Thensheplots,thensheruminates,thenshe devises;andwhattheythinkintheirheartstheymayeffect, theywillbreaktheirheartsbuttheywilleffect.Godbepraised formyjealousy!Eleveno'clockthehour.Iwillpreventthis, detectmywife,bereveng'dofFalstaff,andIaughatPage.Iwill aboutit;betterthreehourstoosoonthanaminutetoolate.Fie, -110一
fie,fie?cuckold,cuckold,cuckold! (II.ii.300-314) Theloreofcuckoldry,particularlyitslanguage,ismoreoffensiveto Fordthanrobbery,adulteryorfamilialtreason.Fordsuffersashe imaginesMrs.FordlivingthepartofawifelikeGiovanna,plotting behindhisbackandfulfillinghersexualdesire.Ford'simaginationhas takencontrolofhim.Heimagineshiswife'sactionsandissomoved bytheimageshismindconjuresthathebecomesconvincedtheyare occuring.Ford'sreactionisofcoursepredictable.Hevowstoprevent hiswifefromcuckoldinghim. Ironically,Ford'seffortstopreventbeingcalled"cuckold"place himinthepositiontohearhimselfcalledjustthat.Whenheconfronts thefatknight,Fordplaceshimselfinhismostembarrassingposture, unabletoreplywhenFalstaffabuseshim Falstaff:Hanghim,poorcuckoldyknave...jealouswittol... Hanghim,mechanicalsalt-butterrogue1Iwillstarehim outofhiswits;Iwillawehimwithmycudgel,itshall hanglikeameteoro'erthecuckold'shorns...Ford'sa knave,andIwillaggravatehisstyle;thou,MasterBrook, shallknowhimforaknaveandcuckold. (II.ii.270,277,278-281,283-285) Duringtheseencountersinwhichhesquirmsundertheabominable termsFalstaffconjuresup,Fordenduresthenameshesoabhors.Ina senseFalstaffisright,thoughnotintheusualsenseof"cuckold";for Shakespeareintheprocessofredefiningcuckoldryredefinestheword "wittol"and"horn -madness ."Fordisawittolnotbecausehemakes hiswifeunfaithful,butbecausehe,morethananyoneelse,isin--111一
strumentalindishonoringhimself,placinghimselfinthepositionto sufferbeingcalled"wittol,""cuckold"andjealous.Also,whenFord seekstodiscoverFalstaffandMrs.Fordtogether,hegathersanarmy ofwitnesses,friendsandservantstoaccompanyhim ,assuringinthis way,hisshamewouldbeproclaimedabouttownhadhebeensuccessful . "Youshallhavesport ,"hepromisesasherallieshisfriends,"Iwill showyouamonster"(III.ii.80-81).Butathome ,themonsterhe succeedsinrevealingishimself,ajealousmonster.Page ,the representativeoftrustinghusbands,pledgestomockFordforhis improvidentjealousy(III.ii.228-229).SoFord'sshamederivesnot frombeingcuckolded,butfromfearingtobecuckolded,frombeing jealousandfromseekingpublicexposureofhisadversary.Itishis beliefincuckoldrywhichisreprehensibleandfoolish . ToFord'scredit,hisjealousyisnotofanobsessivestamp .After findingnoFalstaffathome,herelentsatleastprovisionally ."Icannot findhi叫"hesays,"Maybetheknavebragg'dofthathecouldnot compass"(III.iii.199-200).ItmustalsobegrantedFordhehasstrong evidencetosparksuspicion‐Pistol'swarningandFalstaff'sown allegations,bothconfirmedbyFord'sownobservations .Solaterwe arenotsurprisedwhenFord'sjealousyreturnsaugmented .Mrs.Page describeshim Whywoman,yourhusbandisinhisoldlinesagain.Hesotakes onyonderwithmyhusband;sorailsagainstallmarriedman-kind;socursesallEve'sdaughters,ofwhatcomplexionsoever; andsobuffetshimselfoftheforehead,crying"Peerout,peer out!",thatanymadnessIeveryetbeheldseem'dbuttameness, civility,andpatiencetothishisdistemperheisinnow. (IV.ii.19-28) -112一
Ford'swittolycharacterisinitsapogee.Frenzied,Fordbeatshisown browsbiddingnon-existenthornstoappear.Ford'sjealousyhas extendedtodoubtallmaritalfaithandtocondemnallwomen.Thisis, forShakespeare,hornmadness,anditispartofhismoralitytodepict thisuniversaldistrust,unwarrantedmisogynyandfranticdesireto revealadulteroussinasself-indulgentmadness. InIlPecoronehornmadnessconsistsofafranticlossofwitand self-controlensuingwhentheProfessorfailstoprovetheactual adulteryofhiswife.Itresultsfromthefrustrationofnotbeingableto revealthetruth.Ford'shornmadnessisafranticdesiretoproclaimhis owndisgrace Well,IwillproclaimmyselfwhatIam...Iwillsearchimpos-sibleplaces.ThoughwhatIamIcannotavoid,yettobewhat Iwouldnotshallnotmakemetame.IfIhavehornstomakeone mad,lettheproverbgowithme:1'llbehorn-mad. (III.v.143-144) Inhishornmadness,Fordbecomesthemostactiveagentinshaming himself.Hevowstoproclaimhimself"cuckold."Heinviteshorn madnessandconsciouslybidsittoappearasheordershornstoappear onhisforehead.Ford'shornmadnessconsistsnotofregretandsorrow forbeingwronged,butisbeliefincuckoldryitself.Later,inanironic speech,herefusestoadmitthepossibilityoferroronhispart Helptosearchmyhousethisonetime.IfIfindnotwhatIseek, shownocolorformyextremity,letmeforeverbeyourtable-sport.Letthemsayofme,"AsjealousasFord,thatsearch'da -113一
hollowwalnutforhiswife'sLeman." (N.ii.160-164} Ofcourse,onceherealizeshehasbeenwrong,Fordrepentsbutisnot, atleastnotonstage,mockedwiththeseverityheanticipates.Rather, theonlyrealmockingthatoccursonstageisthefinalbaitingof Falstaff. ShakespearedoesnotdepictfullythesceneinwhichFordloses hisjealousy.Presumably,heconfrontsMrs.Ford,andsherevealshow sheandMrs.PagehavefooledFalstaff.Shakespeare'sreluctanceto depictFord'schallengeofhiswifeisperhapsanindicationofthe playwright'ssensitivitytowardsthequestioningofwifelyfaith.ActIV, SceneivbeginsjustafterMrs.PageandMrs.Fordhaveexplainedhow theyhavetreatedFalstaff.Thescene,openingwithFord'sapology, assumeshimtohavebelievedimmediatelythefactsofthematterand repented: Pardonme,wifehenceforthdowhatthouwilt. Iratherwillsuspectthesunwithcold Thantheewithwantonness.Nowdoththyhonorstand, Inhimthatwasoflateanheretic, Asfirmasfaith. (IV.iv.6-10) Whereasinhisfirstsoliloquy(II.ii.287-314)Ford'scomparisons addressedpopularprejudicesandstereotypes...aWelshman'sappe-tite,anIrishman'sthirstforwhiskey,awife'slust...,hereFord's comparisonsaddressthenaturalorderrepresentedbythesun,indicat-inghisconversioninvolvesanewinsightintotherealnatureofthings. -114一
FordhasbeenconvertedtoPage'sfaithinwives,afaiththattrustsand frees.Fordhaslearnedthatfaithlessnessisasuncharacteristicofthe.. merrywivesascoldisforeigntothesun.Faithfulnessinmarriage becomesforFordareligiousmatter,hisformerdistrustseemsheretical tohim,andhispresentbeliefis"asfirmasfaith." Page'sreplytoFord'sspeechissignificant:"`Tiswell,'tiswell,no mare/Benotextremeinsubmissionasinoffence"(IV.iv.10-11). HereTheMerryu物esarguesforaparticularidealofmarriage,an idealbasedontheassumptionthatwiveswillbefaithfulandcanbe trusted.PagecommendsFord'snewfaith,buturgeshimtosubduehis enthusiasm,stilltobemasterandnottooffersubmissiontohisspouse. Pagearguesformoderationinthepaternalauthorityinthenuclear family.Pageisnowinapositionofauthoritysufficienttooffersuch advice.Earlier,inFord'sview,andperhapsintheaudience'saswell, Pageseemedafoolishwittolyasswhosecuckoldingwasinevitable,but nowPage'sfaithinhiswifehasbeenshowntobewellfounded.His faithandadvicecommandrespectfortheyfitthewivesdepictedinthe play. TheexampleofMrs.PageandMrs.FordallowsPage'sfaithtobe affirmed.Inawaytheyresembletheamiable,funlovingandwitty wivesfoundsooftenincuckoldstorieswhoteachtheirjealoushus-bandstohavefaithandteachunacceptableparamoursthefollyoftheir advances.RobertsemphasizesthefactthatMrs.FordandMrs.Page arenotstereotypical,however,andthisiscertainlytrue."'Unlikethe womeninTheMerryWives,mostofthewivesinthecuckoldtradition docuckoldtheirhusbandsthoughtheymanagetoconvincethem otherwise,andtheyusuallyturnawaytheunacceptableparamouronly (7)Roberts,pp.70ff. -115一
lI tofavorothersmoreattractive∫8)ButShakespeare'smerrywivesare allfaith.WifelyfidelityinTheMerry仰 物 召sinassumedtobeasmuch apartofawife'sidentityasinfidelityisassumedpartofawife's identityinthecuckoldtradition.Mrs.Page'sreactiontoFalstaff's advancesindicateshowshefindstheimpulsetocuckoldherhusband uncharacteristicofherself ItmakesmealmostreadytoWrangelwithmineownhonesty.1'll entertainmyselflikeonethatIamnotacquaintedwithal;for sureunlessheknowsomestraininmethatIknownotmyself ,he wouldneverhaveboardedmeinthisfury. (II.i.84-89) Mrs,Pagecannotconceivehowshecouldsparksuchanadvanceas Falstaff's.Sheseesnostraininherthatwouldsuggestshewouldbe unfaithful. FordandFalstaff,however,doseesuchastrain.Theyquestionthe wives'faithfulnessbecausetheymisreadamiabilityormerrinessfor licentiousness.Thewivesarestereotypedascuckold-makersbecauseI theyare"merry."Fordremarksthathiswife"enlargethhermirthso farthatthereisashrewdconstructionmadeofher"(II .ii.222-223), andFalstaffisjustsuchaonetotranslateMrs.Ford'smirthinto languagesorichinconnotationastomakeashrewdconstruction powerfulenoughtocouzenevenhimself: IdomeantomakelovetoFord'swife.Ispyentertainmentin her.Shediscourses,shecarves,shegivestheleerofinvitation . (8)AsisthecaseinChaucer's"TheMiller'sTale." -lI6一
Icanconstruetheactionofherfamiliarstyle,andthehardest voiceofherbehavior(tobeEnglish'drightly)is,`IamSirJohn Falstaff's.' (1.iii.43-48} FalstafffoolshimselfbytranslatingMrs.Ford'ssocialentertaiment, heramiableinvitations,herfamiliarstyle,hermerrinessintoconscious allure.Pistol'saside,atthismomentintheplayassurestheaudience, however,thatFalstaff'suseoflanguageisamistranslation,"Hehath studiedherwellandtranslatedherwill,outofhonestyintoEnglish"(II. iii.43-50),"English"heresuggestingalanguageoffalsity.Justasthe fatwould-becuckold--makerisabletoconceiveofFordasacuckold, solanguageallowshimtoconceiveofMrs.Fordasanunfaithfulwife. Cuckoldryhasbecomeamatteroflanguage,alanguagethatdecieves insteadofdescribes,alanguageofstereotypeandoffalsity,alanguage thatcreatescuckoldsandcallswomen'sfaithintoquestion. Falstaff'swooingalsofollowsstereotypicalpatterns,indicating howheconcludes,liketheProfessorandBucciuolo,thatoneneedsonly togothroughthemotionsthatcharacterizeatypicalyoungparamour ‐bediscreetincompany ,usesonnetconventions,approachthe belovedthroughapandar‐andthewiveswillfall.Falstaff'sletterto thewivesopenswithaconventionalsonnetsequencetopic,therelation-shipbetweenloveandreason:"AskmenoreasonwhyIlove,for thoughloveuseReasonforhisprecisian,headmitshimnotforhis counsellor"(II.i.4-6}.LikeSidney'sAstrophil,Falstaffapproaches hisStella(alsoamarriedwoman)bysendingnotesthatattemptto anatomizethepsychologyoflove(compareAstyophilandStella#10). Falstaff'sattempt,astheremainderofhisletterconfirms,isclearly weak,offhanded,foolish,insincereandinsulting.WhenheentersMrs. -117一
Ford'schambers,FalstafffollowsuphispoetizingbyquotingSidney directly,choosingthesongwhichtellshowAstrophilfirststoleakiss fromStella,"HaveIcaughtthee,myheavenlyjewelP"(9)Falstaff'slack ofanyrealattempttosimulatesincerityshowshowheunderestimates boththefaithfulnessandtheintelligenceofMrs.FordandMrs.Page . Heseesthemnotasrealwomen,butascharactersinthecuckold tradition. Falstaffseeshimselfalsoasacharacterinthecuckoldtradition, thetypicalparamour.Withhumorouseffecthestrutshisbulkabout thestage,whilewithmockhumilityhedeniestheattractionofhis "goodparts"(II .ii.146-147).Onlyinonerespect,however,does Falstafffulfilltheplotconventionsasappliedtocuckoldry'spar-amours:heendureshumiliatingdiscomfortinthepursuitofthewives' favor.InIlPecoroneBucciuoloneedstohide,forashorttime,beneath "aheapofn ewlywashedclothes,"butisrecompensedwith"afat capon,withwineofseveralkinds"followedby"greatjoy"whenthe wifeandhegive"eachotherdelightandpeace"(23).Butpeaceisone delightFalstaffisnevertoenjoy.UnliketheparamourinIlPecorone, allFalstaffgainsatthehandsofthemerrywivesisindignity .Falstaff isforcedtobearwiththecrampedquartersandstaleodorsofa buckbasket,istreatedtoanuncleansingdipintothefreezingmudofthe Thames,andlatersuffersthehumiliationofdressingastheoldwitch ofBrentfordandreceivingasoundcudgeling. Inmostsenses,Falstaffisquiteunliketheparamoursfoundinthe cuckoldtradition.Heisnotayoung,clever,potentandromanticman competingwithanold,foolish,jealous,greedyandpossesivehusband. Rather,heistheold,easilyfooled,goutyandgreedyman,moreofa (9)See/1s」Frophil〃 っz4Stella,Song2,line1.1 -118一
mismatchforMrs.Fordthanisherhusband.ThoughFalstaffbelieves hehasthewives'confidence,hedoesnot.Hisromanticizingsare patentlyabsurd.Mostimportantly,theplayconcludeswithFalstaff, notFord,transformedintoahornedbeastandmockedinapublic shameceremony.Inthisscene,Falstaff,disguisedastheIocalWindsor figureHernetheHunter,resemblesthecuckoldmorethanthehusband. Further,Shakespeare'sdecisiontoevokethefigureofActaeonin thefinalsceneissignificant.Thismythologicalfigureisfirst mentionedbyPistolwarningFordagainstthefateoftheancient hunter,"Prevent,orgothou/LikeSirActaeonhe,withRingwormat thyheels"(II.i.188).Later,Fordhimselfadoptstheterminology applyingittoPage,"Well,Iwill...divulgePagehimselfforasecure andwillfulActaeon"(III.ii.40-43).ItisaptinthisplayforShake-spearetochooseActaeonasasymbolofthecuckold,andforFordwho issosensitivetothedishonorimpartedbythelanguageofcuckoldryto adoptit.IntheRenaissance,Actaeonhad,throughtheagencyofhis horns,becomeasymbolofthecuckolddespitethefactthatthemyth concerninghimcontainsnoreferencetocuckoldry.Actaeon'scaseis anexampleofadulterychargedwhereitneveroccurred.Actaeondoes, therefore,resembleonecharacterinTheMerryWivesmoreexactly thanFordorPage.Falstaff,becausehelooksuponthechasteDianas ofthisplay,istransformedinthewoodsintoahornedbeastandis tormentedthere,baitedbyatleastoneofhisformerhounds,Pistol.(10} Theparamourinthisplayhasnotonlyenduredthetormentsand indignitiestraditionallygiventothem,buthealsobearstheshame, dishonorandthehornsofthetraditionalcuckold.Thehorns,inshort, (10)Hardin,RichardF.,"HonorRevenged:Falstaff'sFortunesandTheルferry WivesofWindsor,"EssaysinLiterature,5(1978},148. -119一
havebeenreassigned.Falstaffendurestheindignities,themockings andthepublicshameceremonymetedoutbytheWindsorsociety., . Finally,Fordappliesthelanguageofcuckoldrytothewould-bepar-amour Now,sir,who'sacuckoldnow?MasterBrook,Falstaff'sa knave,acuckoldyknave;herearehishorns,MasterBrook; and,MasterBrook,hebathenjoy'dnothingofFord'sbuthis buck-basket,hiscudgel,andtwentypoundsofmoneywhich mustbepaidtoMasterBrook. (V.v.109-115) WhenFordasksthehornedFalstaff,"Who'sacuckoldnow?",the answerinonesenseis,"Noone."Neitherhusbandhasbeenwronged inthisplay.Butinanothersense,theansweris,"Falstaff."Hesports afinepairofhorns,partlyasaresult,ofbeingbetrayedbythewives, partlyasthevictimofapoeticjusticethatgiveshimthehornshe wishedtogivetoFordandPage.(11)Butmostimportantly,Falstaff's shameandtransformationintoahornedbeastareduehimforhis personalcorruption,his"sinfulfantasy,"his"lustandluxury,"his "unchastedesire ,"andforthe"fleshofacorruptedheart"(V.v.93,94, 96,87). CoppeliaKahnrightlyplacesgreatsignificanceonFalstaff'sbeing calleda"cuckold."Sheimplies,however,theexchangeofhorns betweenFordandFalstaffrepresentstheuniversalityofcuckoldry, howtheforkedplague(asOthellocallsit,OthelloIII.iii.276)isshared byallmen (11)Kahn,p.150. -120一
Asthehornedcuckolder,heembodiestheplightofallmen, whichisacorollarytothedoublestandardandthesexual propertyinallwomenallottedtothembypatriarchalmarriage. Thedoublestandardgrantsfreesexualactivityofmenonly ,but marriage,bymakingtheirhonorandvirilitydependontheir wives'chastity,turnsthatsexualfreedomintoathreat .Itmakes everyhusbandapotentialcuckold,andgiveseveryman ,married ornot,theopportunityto"plumehiswill"bycuckoldinghis friend≪z Kahniscorrectinsayingthisabouttraditionalcuckoldryingeneral. ButinTheMerryWives,Falstaff'sbeliefthathecan"plumehiswill" bycuckoldingFordisasmuchamalefantasyasisFord'sbeliefthat heisacuckold.AgainandagaininShakespeare'splays,themalebelief thathecancuckoldhusbandsatwillisasmuchafoolishfantasyinthe potentialcuckolderasbeinghornedisachimeratohusbands. Falstaffwearsthecuckold'shornsandbearstheshame,thetaunts andthenameofacuckoldbecauseMrs.FordrightlybetraysFalstaff andrevealshissexualadvances.Asaresult,hehasbeentransformed intoabeastfulfillingthemottooftheKnightsoftheGarterwhose homewasinWindsor,"Hopisoitquimayypence"(Eviltohimwho thinksevil).JohnM.SteadmanhasshownhowallthreeofFalstaff's trialsintheplayaresymbolicallylinkedtoemblemsoflibido punished.113)ThefinalindignityofbecomingaWindsorstagcombines bysuggestingthefigureofActaeonbothaRenaissancesymbolof thecuckoldand"anemblematicexpressionoflustandits (12)Kahn,p.149-150. (13)"FalstaffasActaeon:ADramaticEmblem,"ShakespeareQuarterly,24 (1963),230-244. -121一
chastisement."`14) Falstaffcannotbe"anemblemofEverymanasbothcuckoldand cuckolder"(15)becausenooneinThe・ 砿 召7ηWivesiseithercuckoldor cuckold-maker.Infact,Falstaff'shorningdeniesratherthanaffirms adoublestandard;foritrepresentsthecalumnyduetothewould-be paramourwhoattemptstoengageinadulterousacts.Revengeinthis playisnotdirected,asitoftenis,towardsthewifebuttowardsthe presumptuousparamour.Shakespeare'spresentationofwivesas morallyupright,unembuedwiththedesiretocuckoldtheirhusbands, exorcizestheplayfromthethreatofcuckoldryasitwillinOthello, CymbelineandTheWinter'sTale.Theseplaysalsoaffirmthatwives maybeamiable,freeincompanyandactivemembersofasocial communitywithoutbeingcuckold-makers.Intheperspectiveofthe Renaissance,itisclearthatShakespeareisnotaffirmingastereotype butisattemptingtoexpungeit,freeingwomentolivemoreactive, fulfillingandfreesociallives.InTheMerryWivesofWindoy,Shake-speareridiculesanddefeatsoneofhismostbelovedand,inotherplays, hismostinventivecouzener,belyingthestereotypesofcuckoldry. (14}Steadman,p.234. (15?Kahn,p.150. -122一
