The Taming of the Shrew

Commedia dell’arte Italian “play of professional artists” “comedy of humors” Performed outdoors with few props Improvised around a repertory of stock conventional situations Popular in Italy and England 1400s s

Taming of the Shrew Based on a classic commedia dell’arte plot Innamorati (lovers) wish to be married One or several elders prevent it Lovers seek the help of one or more eccentric servants (zanni) Pantaloon - foolish old man, generally deceived in the course of lovers’ intrigues

Taming of the Shrew One of the early plays (c ) “Shrew” - a scolding, turbulent wife

Taming of the Shrew Induction (Introductory Act) –Establishes a “play within a play” –Sets up a theme of illusion –Shakespeare abandons the device after the opening scenes –Usually dropped from productions

Taming of the Shrew Mistaken identity - many characters are convinced to or contrive to be what they are not Two interwoven Plots –Conventional love story of Lucentio and Bianca –More interesting story of Petruchio and Kate (taming the shrew)

Interpretations The play has the ability to make audiences very uncomfortable due to its presentation of the war of the sexes. –Misogynistic? –Understanding between Kate and Petruchio? –Characters who clearly love each from the start? –Cruel brainwashing?

Interpretations The uncertainty of interpretations is one of the great pleasures, and challenges, today in a world for which ideas about marriage have changed dramatically since Shakespeare’s day when women were considered chattel, or property.

Kate the Shrew

Petruchio of Verona The man who agreed to woo Kate so that he may gain her large dowry and help his friend, Hortensio, marry Bianca. He becomes an even greater shrew and madman in her eyes (and of those around him) in order to tame her. Petruchio carries her away, throws her in the mud, starves her, and forces her to wear rags in order to create a dignified obedient woman.

Bianca Baptista's youngest daughter and the prize after which three men seek victory. Lucentio, Hortensio, and Gremio are all in love with her and go to desperate measures to woo her. Although she speaks little throughout the play, she is beaten by Kate, loved by many men, and taught by the disguised teachers 'Litio' and 'Cambio.'

Lucentio A young wealthy man of Pisa, who has come to Padua and fallen madly in love with Bianca. He changes clothes with his servant, Tranio, and assumes the false identity of Cambio, a schoolteacher, in order to live within the walls of Baptista's house and secretly woo Bianca. He acts as Cambio throughout most of the play, and reveals himself to his beloved.

Hortensio A suitor to Bianca and old friend of Petruchio. He lives in Padua and offers his home to Petruchio during his stay there and courtship with Kate. He assumes the identity of a schoolteacher named Litio in order to get behind the walls of Baptista's house and woo Bianca, as well. He is the man who suggests the idea of marrying Kate to Petruchio.

Gremio Another of Bianca’s suitors. A wealthy elderly gentleman, Gremio tries to woo her unsuccessfully. He is involved in the trickery throughout the play, and fills the role of the “pantaloon” character.

PLOT SUMMARY The play opens as the drunkard Christopher Sly is thrown out of a tavern. A wealthy Lord returns from hunting and finds Sly passed out on the street. He dresses him up as a Lord and has his servants and players convince him that he is a lord who has been asleep for nearly fifteen years. He also tells his players to put on a show for this man. The show they perform is about the taming of a shrew.

The play within the play begins as the young noble scholar Lucentio enters a street in Padua with his servant, Tranio. He overhears Hortensio and Gremio discuss their affections for the youngest daughter of nobleman Baptista of Padua. When Lucentio sees the young daughter, Bianca, he also falls in love with her. The problem remains that Bianca is not allowed to marry until her older sister, Kate the shrew, is first married. Finding the task almost impossible, Lucentio and Hortensio both devise plans to woo Bianca. Lucentio changes clothing with Tranio and disguises himself as a schoolteacher named Cambio, so that he may live in Baptista's house and woo Bianca. Tranio will impersonate Lucentio and win her affection from Baptista. Likewise, Hortensio devises a plan that enables him to live in the house as a schoolteacher named Litio.

Petruchio of Verona comes to Padua to visit his old friend, Hortensio, as well as seek a new life and wife. Hortensio tells Petruchio of Kate, the shrew with a large dowry, and convinces him to tame and marry her. Petruchio introduces himself to Baptista as a suitor to Kate and offers Hortensio (dressed as Litio) as a teacher. Tranio (dressed as Lucentio) does the same to Baptista for Bianca's affections, and offers Lucentio (dressed as Cambio) as a teacher. Baptista accepts these teachers and gifts and welcomes the men into his home. He also agrees to give Petruchio Kate's hand in marriage and generous dowry.

Petruchio quickly marries Kate and takes her away to his country home. He is cruel, shrewish, and arrogant toward her and treats her worse than an unnecessary object. He also strikes her, yells at his servants, and strikes them. Because of his unruly behavior, everyone near Petruchio fears for his or her life. Meanwhile, Lucentio has revealed his true identity to Bianca and successfully won her affections. Tranio has made arrangements with Baptista for Lucentio to marry Bianca. Tranio also meets a Pedant on the streets of Padua and convinces him to impersonate Vincentio of Pisa (Lucentio's father) so that the deal of marriage may be completed. He agrees.

As Hortensio, Kate, and Petruchio make their way back to Padua, they come across Vincentio, Lucentio's father. They congratulate him on his son's engagement and bring him back to Padua with them. When Vincentio seeks Lucentio, he finds the Pendant and Tranio. The imposters call Vincentio a madman and a liar and ask that Baptista imprison him. However, when Lucentio appears on the scene, he bows down to his father and all truth is revealed.

The true Vincentio agrees to his son's marriage to Bianca, while Hortensio marries a doting and shrew-like widow when he realizes that he has lost Bianca's affections. Petruchio continues to scold and treat Kate and his servants horrifically.

At the final banquet, celebrating the three nuptials - those of Kate and Petruchio, Bianca and Lucentio, and the widow and Hortensio - the men decide to make a wager. They intend to discover who is the shrewest of the three women. They ask Biondello to send for each of them. When both Bianca and the widow decline their husband's requests, Kate appears before them, obedient and tamed. She proclaims her ultimate loyalty to her husband and intends to live for him forever. As all three couples exit, Hortensio and Lucentio look to Petruchio in awe. He has truly tamed the wild shrew.

The Taming of the Shrew 10 Things I Hate About You

JOURNALS ACT 1: What is your initial reaction to the two main characters, Kate the shrew and Petruchio? Consider both what the characters say and what other characters say about them. After watching the movie version, what else can you add to your reaction. ACT 2: Re-read lines , the first meeting/conversation between Petruchio and Kate. What new insights do we gain about the two characters, and what do we learn about the interaction between the two of them? Again, after viewing the movie, what new insights are gained? Especially comment on the way Elizabeth Taylor plays the scene. How do her words and tone sometimes differ from some of her actions and body language?

JOURNALS ACT 3: Does the way Petruchio acts and the things he says before, during and after the wedding portray a misogynistic attitude by Petruchio? By Shakespeare? Especially consider lines Is there any way to defend Petruchio in this act? ACT 4: How does Petruchio go about “ taming ” Kate in Act 4? What is the significance in IV.v when Kate agrees with Petruchio that the sun is actually the moon, then back to the sun?

JOURNALS ACT 5: 1) Which of Kate ’ s actions proves that she has changed? Or has she changed? 2) Explain why Kate and Petruchio ’ s bargain at the conclusion of Act V; scene i (the kiss in the street) indicates that they have both have changed. 3) Analyze Kate ’ s speech at the end of scene ii. What are three examples of statements she makes about marriage that she would not have made in Acts I and II. Why is this speech often called the emotional climax of the play? 4) Is The Taming of the Shrew a sexist play? Explain. 5)Discuss some issues and themes that make The Taming of the Shrew relevant today.