Understanding Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor by Robert A. Albano - HTML preview

6. is usually sympathetic7
7. receives an eventual downfall or comeuppance by the play’s end

As Mosca describes himself, he is a magical entity: shooting “nimbly as a star” and able to be at several places “all at once.” He transcends, or at least believes he transcends, all other lowly human types. This trait imbues the character with a charisma and energy that most members of an audience cannot help but find charming and appealing. And, thus, this comic type often upstages the protagonist of the play: witness Puck or Mercutio, for examples.

Of course, with any attempt to define a comic type, the reader must acknowledge that numerous variations and differences (subtle and otherwise) will undoubtedly appear. Nevertheless, the character of Falstaff in 1 Henry IV shares most, if not all, of the Jester traits enumerated previously.

Without belaboring the point, the following examples may suffice: (1) A selfish and self-serving nature – Falstaff plans to be a wealthy judge once Prince Hal becomes king (I, ii: 66-67). (2) A high esteem of himself – Falstaff poetically equates his role as thief to that of a gentleman forester serving the goddess of the moon (I, ii: 24-26). The rascal also refers to himself as “sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff” (II, iv: 475-77). (3) Ridicule or satire of other situations and individuals – Falstaff ironically