ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to analyze a type of linguistic metamorphosis enacted through conditionals. Falstaff cleverly employs this device in the group of plays that have been named after him. Falstaff uses many different syntactic constructions for different purposes: for instance he chooses pronouns and terms of address with great accuracy so as to encode his attitude in the vocative. The chapter shows how his conditionals become a kaleidoscope through which he mystifies reality in order to direct his interlocutors' perception of it. The protases whose conditions are somehow verifiable are unwelcome to Falstaff, whereas the conditions posed by Hal are always easy to substantiate, either through factual observation, or through the syllogistic structure of his reasoning. The examples of conditionals used by Falstaff have different illocutionary quality and strength. The chapter also aims to identify the different types of conditionals uttered by Falstaff, describe their pragmatic functions and outline a provisional taxonomy by selecting the most recurrent types.
