The Merry Wives of Windsor Lesson Plan

What does Slender mean when he says "All his successors gone before him hath done’t, and all his ancestors that come after him may" (I.1.13)?

Slender here makes a mistake, using "successors" in place of "ancestors." His intention is to mean that all his ancestors have signed their name that way, and all his successors will as well. This mix-up is important, as it shows how Slender struggles to use the right word at the right time. Another character who does this often is Mistress Quickly, but many of the characters use words quite strangely. This develops the play's concerns with language and its inability to always effectively communicate meaning.

What does Sir...