Falstaff

 It’s always a great experience to see one of your favorite celebrities appear in your favorite TV show or movie. All the publicity and fame they have make it an even better experience to see them again in a show. There was a chubby celebrity like this in the olden days. His name is Falstaff. He was the biggest star in the time of Shakespeare, and still is today. Though, he was only a fictional character, he appeared in several different performances, and was always a fan favorite. He made many appearances, most often playing a boastful, vain, and cowardly knight who was a companion to prince Hal, the future King Henry V.

 Falstaff first appeared in //Henry IV part 1//, and later in part 2, and //The// //Merry Wives of Windsor.// His original name was John Oldcastle, but a descendant of a real knight named Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, demanded Shakespeare change it as to respect his ancestry. His later name, Falstaff, derived from an English knight, Sir John Fastolf, who was known as a very cowardly knight, as he fought in the Battle of Patay against Joan of Arc, which the British lost. In that famous battle, Falstolf ran to retreat and prevent his capture before the battle was over.

 Falstaff's character has become so beloved that he has appeared in more than just Shakespeare plays, he has also starred in many newer operas and films that were Shakespeare’s plays told from Falstaff’s point of view. //Falstaff,// an opera written by Antonio Salieri was based off of //the Merry Wives of Windsor,// but told from the knight's perspective. Many other famous characters were inspired by Falstaff. John Rhys-Davies stated that his character, Sallah, from the first three //Indiana Jones// movies was based partially on Falstaff. Another character, Volstagg, was based on of Falstaff, and appeared in Marvel’s //Thor// comics.

 Falstaff's character was not in //Henry V,// and it was said that he had died. His passing allowed the character Prince Hal to grown and mature into Henry V, a brave, mature king. Though he was a comic figure, most people underestimate his influence. He was Shakespeare’s key to his trick comedy. And even though Falstaff died, he lives on as one of Shakespeare's most beloved and memorable characters.