the taming of the shrew, shakespeare

8/13/2019 The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare

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The Taming of The Shrew

1. Context

T HEMOSTINFLUENTIALWRITERin all of English literature, William Shakeseare !as "orn in #$%&to a su''essful mi((le)

'lass glo*e)maker in Stratfor()uon)A*on, Englan(+ Shakeseare atten(e( grammar s'hool, "ut his formal e(u'ation

ro'ee(e( no further+ In #$-he marrie( an ol(er !oman, Anne Hatha!a., an( ha( three 'hil(ren !ith her+

Aroun( #$/0he left his famil. "ehin( an( tra*ele( to Lon(on to !ork as an a'tor an( la.!right+ 1u"li' an( 'riti'al a''laim

2ui'kl. follo!e(, an( Shakeseare e*entuall. "e'ame the most oular la.!right in Englan( an( art)o!ner of the 3lo"e

Theater+ His 'areer "ri(ge( the reigns of Eli4a"eth I 5rule(#$$6#%078 an( 9ames I 5rule( #%076#%-$8, an( he !as a

fa*orite of "oth monar'hs+ In(ee(, 9ames grante( Shakeseare:s 'oman. the greatest ossi"le 'omliment ". "esto!ing

uon its mem"ers the title of ;ing:s Men+ Wealth. an( reno!ne(, Shakeseare retire( to Stratfor( an( (ie( in #%#%at the

age of fift.)t!o+ At the time of Shakeseare:s (eath, literar. luminaries su'h as for( are the t!o most oular 'an(i(ates="ut the suort for this 'laim is o*er!helmingl. 'ir'umstantial,

an( the theor. is not taken seriousl. ". man. s'holars+

In the a"sen'e of 're(i"le e*i(en'e to the 'ontrar., Shakeseare must "e *ie!e( as the author of the thirt.)se*en la.s

an( #$&sonnets that "ear his name+ The lega'. of this "o(. of !ork is immense+ A num"er of Shakeseare:s la.s seem to

ha*e trans'en(e( e*en the 'ategor. of "rillian'e, "e'oming so influential as to affe't rofoun(l. the 'ourse of Western

literature an( 'ulture e*er after+

The Taming of the Shrewis one of Shakeseare:s earliest 'ome(ies, an( it shares man. essential 'hara'teristi's !ith his

other romanti' 'ome(ies, su'h as Much Ado About Nothingan(A Midsummer Nights Dream.These 'hara'teristi's in'lu(e

lighthearte( an( slasti'k humor, (isguises an( (e'etion, an( a ha. en(ing in !hi'h most of the 'hara'ters 'ome out

satisfie(+ The lighthearte(ness of these romanti' 'ome(ies 'ontrasts sharl. !ith the (arker humor an( (eeer'hara'teri4ation of Shakeseare:s later la.s, "oth 'omi' an( tragi'+ The .outhfulness of the la.!right 'an "e seen in the

!himsi'al sirit of the earl. la.s+ Like the other romanti' 'ome(ies, The Taming of the Shrewfo'uses on 'ourtshi an(

marriage, "ut, unlike most of them, it (e*otes a great (eal of attention to marrie( life after the !e((ing+ The other 'ome(ies

usuall. 'on'lu(e !ith the !e((ing 'eremon. itself+

A la. fo'using on the 'on'erns of marrie( life !oul( ha*e seeme( arti'ularl. rele*ant to English au(ien'es of the

Renaissan'e erio(+ Theirs !as a so'iet. 'on'erne( !ith marriage in general, thanks in art to Henr. ?III:s searation of

Englan( from the @atholi' @hur'h in #$7&in or(er to se'ure a (i*or'e that the oe ha( refuse( to grant him+ Henr.:s

trou"les highlight one imortant ase't of Eli4a"ethan marriages among the uer 'lass the. !ere most often arrange( for

mone., lan(, or o!er, rather than for lo*e+ Moreo*er, unless .ou !ere the king of Englan(, the late si>teenth an( earl.

se*enteenth 'enturies offere( fe! !a.s out of an unha. marriage+ Thus, the resolution of marital (isutes "e'ame an

imortant toi' in the oular literature of the era+

Of arti'ular !orr. to this so'iet. !ere Bshre!sC or Bs'ol(sC=that is, 'antankerous or gossi. !i*es, !ho resiste( or

un(ermine( the assume( authorit. of the hus"an( !ithin a marriage+ A large num"er of sermons, la.s, an( amhlets of

the time a((ress relate( toi's the taming of shre!s ". their hus"an(s or the u"li' unishment of s'ol(s "., for e>amle,

reeate(l. (unking them in a ri*er+ 1art of this "o(. of literature took a *er. (ilomati' attitu(e to!ar( !omen, although

mu'h of it !as e>tremel. misog.nisti'+ In some of this literature, it is (iffi'ult to (istinguish "et!een "eha*ior that is "eing

aro(ie( an( "eha*ior that is resente( as an i(eal+ This am"iguit. ma. also "e foun( in The Taming of the Shrew, !hi'h

manages to lamoon 'hau*inisti' "eha*ior !hile simultaneousl. reaffirming its so'ial *ali(it.+ The la. 'ele"rates the 2ui'k

!it an( fier. sirit of its heroine e*en !hile re*eling in her humiliation+


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2. Plot Overview

I NTHEEN3LISH@OUNTRDSIE,a oor tinker name( @hristoher Sl. "e'omes the target of a rank ". a lo'al lor(+

Fin(ing Sl. (runk out of his !its in front of an alehouse, the lor( has his men take Sl. to his manor, (ress him in his finer.,

an( treat him as a lor(+ When Sl. re'o*ers, the men tell him that he is a lor( an( that he onl. "elie*es himself to "e a tinker

"e'ause he has "een insane for the ast se*eral .ears+ Waking in the lor(:s "e(, Sl. at first refuses to a''et the men:s

stor., "ut !hen he hears of his B!ife,C a age"o. (resse( in !omen:s 'lothing, he rea(il. agrees that he is the lor( the.

urort him to "e+ Sl. !ants to "e left alone !ith his !ife, "ut the ser*ants tell him that a troue of a'tors has arri*e( to

resent a la. for him+ The la. that Sl. !at'hes makes u the main stor. of The Taming of the Shrew+

In the Italian 'it. of 1a(ua, a ri'h .oung man name( Lu'entio arri*es !ith his ser*ants, Tranio an( 'ite( to "egin his stu(ies, "ut his riorities 'hange !hen he sees


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imme(iatel.+ The others a'kno!le(ge that 1etru'hio has !on an astonishing *i'tor., an( the ha. ;atherine an( 1etru'hio

lea*e the "an2uet to go to "e(+

3. Character List

Katherine) The Bshre!C of the la.:s title, ;atherine, or ;ate, is the (aughter of e'tations that she o"e. her father an( sho! gra'e an( 'ourtes. to!ar( her suitors+ At the same

time, ho!e*er, ;atherine must see that gi*en the rigi(it. of her so'ial situation, her onl. hoe to fin( a se'ure an( ha.

la'e in the !orl( lies in fin(ing a hus"an(+ These inherentl. 'onfli'ting imulses ma. lea( to her miser. an( oor temer+ A


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*i'ious 'ir'le ensues the angrier she "e'omes, the less likel. it seems she !ill "e a"le to a(at to her res'ri"e( so'ial role

the more alienate( she "e'omes so'iall., the more her anger gro!s+

esite the humiliations an( (eri*ations that 1etru'hio a((s to her life, it is eas. to un(erstan( !h. ;atherine might

su''um" to marr. a man like him+ In their first 'on*ersation, 1etru'hio esta"lishes that he is ;atherine:s intelle'tual an(

*er"al e2ual, making him, on some le*el, an e>'iting 'hange from the easil. (ominate( men !ho normall. surroun( her+

1etru'hio:s for'i"le treatment of ;atherine is in e*er. !a. (esigne( to sho! her that she has no real 'hoi'e "ut to a(at to

her so'ial role as a !ife+ This a(atation must "e attra'ti*e to ;atherine on some le*el, sin'e e*en if she (islikes the role of

!ife, la.ing it at least means she 'an 'omman( rese't an( 'onsi(eration from others rather than suffer the uni*ersal

re*ulsion she re'ei*es as a shre!+ Ha*ing a so'ial role, e*en if it is not i(eal, must "e less ainful than 'ontinuall. reGe'ting

an. so'ial role at all+ Thus, ;atherine:s e*entual 'omlian'e !ith 1etru'hio:s self)ser*ing BtrainingC aears more rational

than it might ha*e seeme( at first ". the en( of the la., she has gaine( a osition an( e*en an authoritati*e *oi'e that she

re*iousl. ha( "een (enie(+

). Petruchio

The "oastful, selfish, mer'urial 1etru'hio is one of the most (iffi'ult 'hara'ters in The Taming of the Shrew his "eha*ior is

e>tremel. (iffi'ult to (e'iher, an( our interretation of the la. as a !hole 'hanges (ramati'all. (een(ing on ho! !e

interret 1etru'hio:s a'tions+ If he is nothing more than a *ain, un'aring, gree(. 'hau*inist !ho treats marriage as an a't of

(omination, then the la. "e'omes a (ark 'ome(. a"out the materialism an( hunger for o!er that (i'tate marriages un(erthe guise of 'ourtl. lo*e+ If, on the other han(, 1etru'hio is a'tuall. 'aa"le of lo*ing ;ate an( 'on'ei*es of taming her

merel. as a means to reali4e a ha. marriage, then the la. "e'omes an e>amination of the s.'holog. of relationshis+

A 'ase 'an "e ma(e for either interretation, "ut the truth a"out 1etru'hio ro"a"l. lies some!here in "et!een he is

una"ashe(l. selfish, materialisti', an( (etermine( to "e his !ife:s lor( an( master, "ut he also lo*es her an( reali4es on

some le*el that (omesti' harmon. 5on his terms, of 'ourse8 !oul( "e "etter for her than her 'urrent life as a shre! in 1a(ua+

To this e>tent, 1etru'hio goes to alarming lengths to imose his master. on ;ate, keeing her tire( an( hungr. for some time

after their marriage, "ut he also insists on framing this treatment in a language of lo*e, in(i'ating his eagerness for ;ate to

a(at to her rightful, so'iall. aointe( la'e an( his !illingness to make their marriage a ha. one+ A"o*e all, 1etru'hio is

a 'omi' figure, an e>aggerate( ersona !ho 'ontinuall. makes the au(ien'e laugh+ An( though !e laugh !ith 1etru'hio as

he BtamesC ;ate, !e also laugh at him, as !e see him satiri4e the *er. gen(er ine2ualities that the lot of The Taming of the

Shrewultimatel. uhol(s+*. Lucentio

9ust as


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+. Themes, &oti%s - !"mols

/. Themes

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary wor.

10. &arriae as an conomic nstitution

As a romanti' 'ome(., the la. fo'uses rin'iall. on the romanti' relationshis "et!een men an( !omen as the. (e*elo

from initial interest into marriage+ In this rese't, the la. is a t.i'al romanti' 'ome(.+ Ho!e*er, unlike other

Shakesearean 'ome(ies, The Taming of the Shrew(oes not 'on'lu(e its e>amination of lo*e an( marriage !ith the

!e((ing+ Rather, it offers a signifi'ant glimse into the future li*es of marrie( 'oules, one that ser*es to roun( out its

e>loration of the so'ial (imension of lo*e+

Unlike in !omeo and "uliet#inner emotional (esire la.s onl. a se'on(ar. role inThe Taming of the Shrew:s e>loration of

lo*e+ Instea(, The Taming of the Shrewemhasi4es the e'onomi' ase'ts of marriage=se'ifi'all., ho! e'onomi'

'onsi(erations (etermine !ho marries !hom+ The la. ten(s to e>lore romanti' relationshis from a so'ial erse'ti*e,

a((ressing the institutions of 'ourtshi an( marriage rather than the inner assions of lo*ers+ Moreo*er, the la. fo'uses on

ho! 'ourtshi affe'ts not Gust the lo*ers themsel*es, "ut also their arents, their ser*ants, an( their frien(s+ In general, !hile

the hus"an( an( the !ife 'on(u't the marriage relationshi after the !e((ing, the 'ourtshi relationshi is negotiate(

"et!een the future hus"an( an( the father of the future !ife+ As su'h, marriage "e'omes a transa'tion in*ol*ing the transfer

of mone.+ Lu'entio !ins e'tations a"out ho! that erson

shoul( "eha*e+ A 'hara'ter:s so'ial osition is (efine( ". su'h things as his or her !ealth, age, gen(er, rofession,

arentage, an( e(u'ation the rules go*erning ho! ea'h of them shoul( "eha*e are harshl. enfor'e( ". famil., frien(s, an(

so'iet. as a !hole+ For instan'e, Lu'entio o''uies the so'ial role of a !ealth. .oung stu(ent, Tranio that of a ser*ant, an(

e'tations of her

so'iet., she fa'es the 'ol( (isaro*al of that so'iet., an(, (ue to her alienation, she "e'omes misera"l. unha.+ ;ate is

onl. one of the man. 'hara'ters in The Taming of the Shrew!ho attemt to 'ir'um*ent or (en. their so'iall. (efine( roles,

ho!e*er Lu'entio transforms himself into a !orking)'lass Latin tutor, Tranio transforms himself into a !ealth. .oung

aristo'rat, @hristoher Sl. is transforme( from a tinker into a lor(, an( so forth+

@omare( !ith ;atherine:s more serious anguish a"out her role, the other 'hara'ters: attemts to 'ir'um*ent so'ial

e>e'tations seem like harmless fun+ Ho!e*er, the la. illustrates that ea'h transformation must "e un(one "efore

'on*entional life 'an resume at the en( of the la.+ Ultimatel., so'iet.:s hainess (een(s uon e*er.one la.ing his or her

res'ri"e( roles+ Through the motif of (isguise, the la. entertains the i(ea that a erson:s aarel (etermines his or her

so'ial osition, "ut it ultimatel. affirms that this is not the 'ase+ A ser*ant ma. ut on the 'lothes of a lor(, "ut he remains a

ser*ant, one !ho must return to his la'e, as !e see !ith Tranio+ Like!ise, Lu'entio must re*eal his su"terfuge to his father

an( to 'itement in The

Taming of the Shrewstems from its ermea"le so'ial "oun(aries, 'riss'rosse( 'ontinuall. ". those !ho emlo. a (isguise

or a 'le*er lie+ In the en(, ho!e*er, the 'on*entional or(er reesta"lishes itself, an( those 'hara'ters !ho harmoni4e !ith that

or(er a'hie*e ersonal hainess+

12. &oti%s

Motifs are recurring structures# contrasts# and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the texts ma$or themes.


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13. 5isuise

isguise figures rominentl. in The Taming of the Shrew Sl. (resses as a lor(, Lu'entio (resses as a Latin tutor, Tranio

(resses as Lu'entio, Hortensio (resses as a musi' tutor, an( the e(ant (resses as ?in'entio+ These (isguises ena"le the

'hara'ters to transgress "arriers in so'ial osition an( 'lass, an(, for a time, ea'h of them is su''essful+ The la. thus oses

the 2uestion of !hether 'lothes make the man=that is, !hether a erson 'an 'hange his or her role ". utting on ne!

'lothes+ The ultimate ans!er is no, of 'ourse+ In The Taming of the Shrew, so'iet. in*ol*es a !e" of ante'e(ents that are

al!a.s a"le to un'o*er one:s true nature, no matter ho! (ifferentl. one !ishes to ortra. oneself+ Tranio, (isguise( as

Lu'entio, nee(s onl. to "um into ?in'entio, an( his true i(entit. surfa'es+ As 1etru'hio imlies on his !e((ing (a., a

garment is siml. a garment, an( the erson "eneath remains the same no matter !hat (isguise is !orn+

1#. 5omestication

The motif of (omesti'ation is "roa('aste( in the la.:s title ". the !or( Btaming+C A great art of the a'tion 'onsists of

1etru'hio:s attemts to 'ure ;atherine of her antiso'ial hostilit.+ ;atherine is thus fre2uentl. referre( to as a !il( animal that

must "e (omesti'ate(+ 1etru'hio 'onsi(ers himself, an( the other men 'onsi(er him, to "e a tamer !ho must train his !ife,

an( most of the men se'retl. suse't at first that her !il( nature !ill ro*e too mu'h for him+ After the !e((ing, 1etru'hio

an( ;atherine:s relationshi "e'omes in'reasingl. (efine( ". the rhetori' of (omesti'ation+ 1etru'hio seaks of training her

like a Bfal'onC an( lans to Bkill a !ife !ith kin(ness+C Hortensio e*en 'on'ei*es of 1etru'hio:s house as a la'e !here other

men ma. learn ho! to (omesti'ate !omen, 'alling it a Btaming)s'hool+C

1(. 6athers and Their Children

The se*eral father'hil( relationshis in the la.=


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20. !ummar": nduction

Outsi(e an alehouse some!here in the English 'ountr.si(e, a (runk "eggar name( @hristoher Sl. argues !ith the Hostess

o*er some glass!are he has "roken in his ine"riate( 'lumsiness+ While the Hostess lea*es to fin( the lo'al authorities, Sl.

asses out, an( soon a lor( returning from the hunt (is'o*ers him+ This lor( (e'i(es to ha*e a "it of fun !ith the sleeing

"eggar an( or(ers his ser*ants to take Sl. "a'k to his house an( treat him as if he !ere a lor(=to ut him in a "e(, la'e

rings on his fingers, set a "an2uet for him, an( so on+ His huntsmen agree that (oing so !oul( "e an e>'ellent Gest, an( the.

"ear Sl. offstage+

A troue of la.ers arri*es, seeking to offer the lor( their ser*i'es+ The lor( !el'omes them to sen( the night at his home,

"ut he !arns them that the. must not laugh at the strange "eha*ior of the other lor( for !hom the. !ill erform+ Then the lor(

tells his ser*i'eman to go to lain that this memor. is "ut the result of a ma(ness

from !hi'h he has suffere( for fifteen .ears+ The. ut on 2uite a sho!, lea(ing an( !ailing in feigne( (istress at his

'ontinue( illness, "ut Sl. remains sketi'al+ Ho!e*er, !hen his B!ifeC is mentione(, Sl. is finall. 'on*in'e(+ O*erGo.e( that

their master:s memor. has returne(, the ser*ants tr. to entertain him+ Sl. attemts to (ismiss the ser*ants so that he 'an

slee !ith his !ife 5!ho is a'tuall. the (isguise( age,


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marriage is something that eole use for their o!n "enefit rather than a refle'tion of some (eeer truth a"out the marrie(

'oule+ Moreo*er, the roles of 'lass, gen(er, an( marital status, !hi'h in or(inar. life seem to "e set in stone, here "e'ome

matters of aearan'e an( er'etion, su"Ge't to maniulation ". the 'hara'ters or the la.!right+ In(ee(, the In(u'tion

rimes Shakeseare:s au(ien'e to think 'riti'all. a"out !hat he !ill resent ne>t+

23. $ct , scene i

2#. !ummar": $ct , scene i

A .oung man name( Lu'entio arri*es in 1a(ua !ith his manser*ant, Tranio+ Lu'entio !as e(u'ate( in 1isa an( Floren'e

an( has 'ome to 1a(ua to further his stu(ies at its famous uni*ersit.+ As he announ'es to Tranio, he is .oung an( eager to

learn ne! things+ Tranio lea(s that the. shoul( not forget the leasures of life in their a'a(emi' ursuits+ The nois. entran'e

of a 'ro!( interruts their (is'ussion+

The 'ro!( is 'omose( of lore throughout the la., se'ifi'all., so'iet.:s e>e'tations 'on'erning a !oman:s

role in a marriage+ Hortensio an( 3remio reresent the then)'on*entional *ie! that a !oman shoul( sa'rifi'e her in(i*i(ualit.

in su"mission to her hus"an(+ @ertainl., this e>e'tation la.s a art in their (e'ision to refer the mil(, su"missi*e


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*o'iferousl. (efen(s her in(een(en'e BWhat, shall I "e aointe( hours, as though "elike I kne! not !hat to take an( !hat

to lea*e HaJC 5I+i+#0-6#0&8+

Most eole in Shakeseare:s so'iet. "elie*e( that the !oman shoul( su"mit to her hus"an(, an( .et the. (i( not

ne'essaril. e>e't the !ife to sa'rifi'e all of her in(een(en'e an( sense of self+ Like!ise, !e shoul( not "e too hast. to

a''use Hortensio an( 3remio of outright misog.n. at this oint in the la.+ 9u(ging from the (ialogue thus far, their (islike of

;atherine ma. seem a natural rea'tion to ;atherine:s "eha*ior+ The 2ualities she first resents are a *iolent temer, Gealous.

in the fa'e of 'ellent suggestion, an( the. all (eart

together+

2+. $nal"sis : $ct , scene ii

The rea(er is "om"ar(e( in the first half of the s'ene ". 1etru'hio:s o*er"earing ersonalit.+ Se*eral 'hara'ter traits rai(l.

re*eal themsel*es he is 2ui'k to anger "ut also 2ui'k to laugh, as he (isla.s in his fre2uent 2uarreling !ith his ser*ant


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3rumio+ He has a 'oarse ersonalit., "ut he is e(u'ate( !ell enough to sout 'lassi'al referen'es an( has a 2ui'k !it+ Also,

he lo*es mone. a"o*e all else, !hi'h e>lains his enthusiasm for 'ourting ;atherine+ As 3rumio remarks, if gi*en enough

gol(, 1etru'hio !oul( hail. marr. a uet, a 'lothing ornament, or a toothless hag !ith *enereal (iseases+ These are

suerfi'ial moti*es, to "e sure, "ut 1etru'hio ro'laims them rou(l., an( Shakeseare uses his ro'lamations to intro(u'e

another (imension to the la.:s e>loration of marriage the i(ea that marriage is essentiall. an e'onomi' a'ti*it., inten(e( to

'onsoli(ate fortunes an( fa'ilitate the (istri"ution of inheritan'es+ 1etru'hio, ha*ing "een left some mone. ". his o!n father,

kno!s that he 'an strike it ri'h if he allo!s himself to "e B"oughtC as a hus"an(+

Mone. is not 1etru'hio:s onl. (ri*ing for'e+ As more 'hara'ters !arn him a"out ;atherine:s harsh tongue, he "egins to *ie!

!e((ing her as a 'hallenge rather than siml. a mone.making oortunit.+ Li*ing !ith the shre!, he sa.s, 'oul( not ossi"l.

"e !orse than en(uring the har(shis of !ar or the sea+ 3remio sa.s that su"(uing ;ate !oul( "e a heroi' 'hallenge,

'omaring the task to one of the la"ors of Her'ules, e*en as he (is'ourages 1etru'hio from un(ertaking it+ In their min(s,

;atherine has aarentl. transforme( from an insu"or(inate !oman into either a monster in nee( of su"Gugation or a

temest that has to "e !ithstoo(+ In fa't, the. gi*e her the title B;atherine the 'urstC 5I+ii+#--8+ The more the men talk a"out

her, the !orse the reort of her "eha*ior "e'omes+

In her a"sen'e, ;atherine:s situation "e'omes a "it 'learer+ 1eole talk a"out her more than the. listen to her, an( the more

eole gossi a"out her, the more the. (islike her+ She !iel(s her tongue to (efen( herself in the onl. !a. she 'an, "ut this

onl. earns her greater (isreute+ After all, in the earlier s'ene "et!een ;atherine an( the t!o suitors, ;atherine "e'omes

angr. after 3remio insults her, although !e (o not kno! !hat transire( "efore their entran'e onstage+ At an. rate, this

s'ene 'larifies the general "ias of the men an( eli'its some s.math. for ;atherine+ In man. !a.s, the men are more

intereste( in 'ometing in tests of ma'hismo an( going to the u" than the. are in the thoughts or feelings of the !omen

!hom the. !ish to !oo+

2/. $ct , scene i

30. !ummar": $ct , scene i

@haos rules at t morning as ;atherine 'hases


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metahor from the other:s 'omments=;ate:s uns generall. insult or threaten, "ut 1etru'hio t!ists them into se>ual

innuen(o+ E*entuall., she "e'omes so enrage( that she hits him, "ut he 'ontinues the game Gust the same, sa.ing that he

!ill marr. her !hether or not she is !illing B!ill .ou, nill .ou, I !ill marr. .ouC 5II+i+-%78+

When


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e>isten'e as an unmarrie( girl, ha*ing alienate( herself from the so'iet. she (esise(+ It ma. "e that marriage reresents a

ne! "eginning for ;ate, a 'han'e to take on a ne! so'ial role an( ossi"l. fin( a more satisf.ing !a. to integrate herself into

her surroun(ings+

32. $ct , scene i

33. !ummar": $ct , scene i

It is no! Satur(a., the (a. "efore ;atherine is s'he(ule( to !e( 1etru'hio+ Lu'entio an( Hortensio, in their rese'ti*e(isguises as @am"io an( Litio, are Binstru'tingC 'lusi*e attention+ 'ite as !ell as e>lore (eeer ase'ts of lo*e an( marriage+ Like the

argument "et!een 1etru'hio an( ;ate in the last s'ene, the e>'hange "et!een Lu'entio an( lores the i(ea of !omen in marriage again, this time ". 'ontrasting ho!

Lu'entio an( Hortensio treat


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3(. $ct , scenes ii9iii

3). !ummar": $ct , scene ii

On Sun(a., outsi(e its 2ui'kl. !ith her an( 3rumio+ The rest of the

art. 'an onl. !at'h in ama4ement an( laugh at the (a.:s e*ents, !on(ering ho! t!o su'h eole 'oul( e*er ut u !ith

one another+ The. resume the !e((ing feast, an( it, he ro"s her of her (ignit. e*en as he o*er'omes her

resistan'e+ He almost seems to mo'k the fa't that she has allo!e( herself to "e !e(, making her !ish that she 'oul( retra't

the (e'ision+ She laments, BI must forsooth "e for'e( To gi*e m. han( oose( against m. heartC 5III+ii+6/8+

This s'ene raises the 2uestion of !hether ;ate, like Sl., has an. agen'. in her situation+ It returns to the theme of authorit.

in marriage an( to the foresha(o!ing e>hi"ite( (uring the la.:s In(u'tion+ ;ate:s ro*en 'aa"ilit. of stan(ing u to her

father an( the other suitors, through !or(s an( e*en *iolen'e if ne'essar., (oes not manifest itself here !ith 1etru'hio+

Surel., if she (i( not !ish to marr. 1etru'hio, she !oul( ha*e foun( a !a. to resist=she 'oul( siml. ha*e refuse( to go to

the 'hur'h or to take the *o!s on'e there+ E*en !hen she (oes offer resistan'e=for instan'e, !hen 1etru'hio (eman(s that

the. lea*e imme(iatel. after the !e((ing=she (oes not reson( !ith the same *igor+ ;ate (oes e>ert some agen'. ".

'hoosing not to fight, "ut she aears to make this 'hoi'e "e'ause she is 'o!e( ". 1etru'hio:s un.iel(ing stan'e+ Thus, if

;ate is o!erless to sto the a'tions of others uon her, Gust as Sl. is, then it seems that there !ill "e little e2ualit. in this

marriage+ 1etru'hio 'omletel. su"Gugates ;ate:s !ill+ In(ee(, 1etru'hio seaks his most misog.nisti' lines of the la. in this

s'ene as he reares to ull ;ate a!a. from the marriage feast BShe is m. goo(s, m. 'hattels+ She is m. house, M.

househol()stuff, m. fiel(, m. "arn, M. horse, m. o>, m. ass, m. an.thingC 5III+iii+#0#6#078+

1etru'hio:s !or(s are not, ho!e*er, soken in all seriousness+ First, the. are not his original thoughts=the. are a list of a

man:s ossessions from the t of the rest of the s'ene, his little (iatri"e aears Gust like his outlan(ish outfit=a ossi"l.

mali'ious !a. to em"arrass not onl. ;ate "ut e*er."o(. else there+ 1etru'hio:s outlan(ish, e>aggerate( ronoun'ement of


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the so'ial 'on*ention of !omen:s inferiorit. might "e interrete( as a satire of the i(ea that a !oman is reall. a man:s

roert.+ 1etru'hio:s ironi' take on marriage "e'omes arti'ularl. 'lear !hen !e 'onsi(er the fa't that 1etru'hio utters his

'omman(ments !hile simultaneousl. (isruting an( (ishonoring the tra(itional @hristian marriage rites themsel*es+

Moreo*er, 1etru'hio gi*es another, *er. (ifferent oinion of marrie( life !hen resses in ;ate:s resen'e+ 1etru'hio:s true feelings might lie some!here in "et!een these t!o e>tremes+ He is 'ertainl.

not !illing to treat ;ate as an e2ual, "ut he also ma. not "e as misog.nisti' as he aears+

3/. $ct ;, scenes i9ii

#0. !ummar": $ct ;, scene i

1etru'hio an( ;ate are a"out to arri*e at 1etru'hio:s 'ountr. house+ 3rumio arri*es first, ho!e*er, 'omlaining that he has

"een sent ahea( to ensure that the ser*ants reare for the arri*al of their master an( his ne! !ife+ @urtis, another ser*ant,

greets him an( hears his tale of the Gourne. from 1a(ua=;ate fell into the mu(, 1etru'hio fle! into a rage, an( the horses

ran a!a.+ 3rumio then or(ers @urtis to assem"le all the other ser*ants, roerl. attire( an( on goo( "eha*ior+ @urtis 'alls

for them, an( a fe! arri*e Gust as 1etru'hio an( ;ate return+

1etru'hio imme(iatel. "e'omes enrage(, 'laiming that his ser*ants fail to atten( him roerl.+ The. (o their "est, "ut 'learl.

he is not lease( ". an.thing+ He (eman(s (inner, an( the. reare it as 2ui'kl. as ossi"le, "ut he 'laims that the meat is

"urne( an( ushes the !hole meal off the ta"le+ In the meantime, ;ate, *isi"l. tire( an( hungr., lea(s !ith him to "e more

atient !ith the ser*ants+ 1etru'hio 'heerfull. tells her that he (eman(s mu'h of them for her "enefit=his ne! "ri(e !ill

re'ei*e nothing short of erfe'tion, he sa.s, reten(ing to ignore the fa't that his ne! "ri(e siml. nee(s a hot meal+ After

taking her off to "e( !ithout foo(, 1etru'hio returns to the stage alone an( announ'es his intentions+ All his a'tions ha*e"een 'al'ulate( to aggra*ate ;ate an( to kee her !anting, for he refers to her as a !il( fal'on that he must train to o"e. his

'all+ He inten(s to re*ent her from sleeing ". making a fuss a"out the !a. the "e( is ma(e, Gust as he (i( !ith the foo(+

This, he sa.s, is the "est !a. to B'ur" her ma( an( hea(strong humourC 5I?+i+#/08+

#1. !ummar": $ct ;, scene ii


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#2. $nal"sis: $ct ;, scenes i9ii

With the "eginning of A't I?, the la. "egins to sti'k e*en more 'losel. to the alternating lotsu"lot stru'ture that it has

follo!e( loosel. u to this oint for the ne>t se*eral s'enes, the a'tion alternates on a s'ene)".)s'ene "asis "et!een the

1etru'hio;atherine stor. an( the Lu'entio


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himself at 1etru'hio:s Btaming)s'hool+C8 ;ate has little time to eat "efore 1etru'hio:s tailor arri*es+ The tailor has reare(

elegant an( e>ensi*e 'lothes for their Gourne. "a'k to 'uses he 'ontinues to

gi*e for his "eha*ior+ She 'omlains to 3rumio that !hat arti'ularl. infuriates her is that 1etru'hio torments un(er the

retense of lo*e+ This retense=not to mention 1etru'hio:s errati' an( eremtor. "eha*ior=makes it har( for her to rea't

to his a'tions !ith her t.i'al anger, sin'e he seems to ha*e the "est intentions an( to onl. (esire her hainess an(

'omfort+ An( .et, gi*en ;ate:s o"*ious intelligen'e, it is remarka"le that she (oes not see through 1etru'hio:s fa'a(e an(

reali4e that he is (oing e*er.thing siml. to frustrate her+ Most likel., she (oes in fa't suse't foul la., as she in(i'ates

!hen she sa.s that he torments her Bun(er name of erfe't lo*e,C iml.ing that the BnameC an( the realit. (o not ne'essaril.

mat'h 5I?+iii+#-8+ She siml. (oes not !ish to stan( u to him on this oint+ The la. is, after all, a 'ome(., an( !e arero"a"l. meant to "elie*e that, (esite their (iffi'ulties, ;ate an( 1etru'hio are falling in lo*e, if the. ha*e not alrea(. (one

so+ Un(er the 'omi' influen'e of lo*e, ;ate is mu'h less likel. to use the full o!er of her 'riti'al thought to see through

1etru'hio:s s'hemes+

Of 'ourse, the attra'tion "et!een ;ate an( 1etru'hio, !hi'h e>ists (esite their so'ial ine2ualit. an( seems to stem from

their intelle'tual e2ualit., is 'entral to our a"ilit. to rea( The Taming of the Shrewas something more than merel. a trou"ling

'hroni'le of si>teenth)'entur. sousal a"use+ Most rea(ers, as 9ean E+ Ho!ar( notes in her intro(u'tion to the la. in The

Norton Shaespeare# Bha*e seen in ;ate an( 1etru'hio:s relationshi an attra'ti*e mutualit. an( *italit. the. fin( (iffi'ult to

re'on'ile !ith the i(ea that the la. is siml. a lesson in ho! to su"or(inate a !oman+C This sense of an Battra'ti*e mutualit.C

is !hat ena"les the la. to "e funn., "ut one of the unresol*a"le 'omli'ations of The Taming of the Shrewis the 2uestion of

ho! !e shoul( re'on'ile the aarent lo*e stor. of the t!o main 'hara'ters !ith 1etru'hio:s o"*iousl. 'ruel treatment of his

ne! !ife+

In A't I?, s'ene iii, ;ate on'e again tries to (ra! the line !hen 1etru'hio tries to thro! a!a. the 'a that the tailor ma(e,

!hi'h she *er. mu'h likes+ She has ha( enough an( tries to esta"lish an autonomous osition

. . . ' trust ' may have leave to spea#

And spea ' will. ' am no child# no babe.

. . .

. . . ' will be free

2ven to the uttermost as ' please in words.

,'(.iii.30/41


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Unfortunatel., not e*en this is enough to get her so mu'h as the 'a in the en(+ She ma. "e free in !or(s, "ut her !or(s

no! fall uon (eaf ears, !hi'h is the sour'e of her frustration+ e'te( "et!een


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;ate an( 1etru'hio stan( in ama4ement at the ro'ee(ings+ The. follo! the rest insi(e to see the 'on'lusion, "ut not "efore

1etru'hio (eman(s one more thing of his !ife+ He asks her to kiss him, there in the mi((le of the street+ Initiall., ;ate

refuses, sa.ing she is ashame( to (o so+


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resonse from the !i(o!+ Finall., 3rumio goes "a'k to get ;ate, an( she returns at on'e, to the great surrise of all "ut

1etru'hio+ 1etru'hio sen(s ;ate "a'k to "ring in the other !i*es+ Again, she o"e.s+ Uon their return, 1etru'hio 'omments

that he (islikes ;ate:s hat an( tells her to thro! it off+ She o"e.s at on'e+ lains to Hortensio !hat ;ate:s o"e(ien'e !ill mean

BMarr., ea'e it "o(es, an( lo*e, an( 2uiet life An a!eful rule an( right surema'., An(, to "e short, !hat not that:s s!eet

an( ha.C 5?+ii+##-6##&8+ BRight surema'.C suggests that his i(eal in*ol*es the 'omlete suression of the !ife:s !ill+

As a !hole, Shakeseare:s so'iet. took this (efinition of gen(er roles for grante(+ After all, this !as a uniforml. @hristian

so'iet. that "o!e( to "i"li'al notions of the hus"an( as the !ife:s hea( an( the !oman as the glor. of the man

5arahrasing Ehesians an( #@orinthians, rese'ti*el.8+ In short, Shakeseare:s so'iet. "elie*e( in the hierar'h. that ;ate

earnestl. suorts in her see'h+

Det, gi*en the fa't that the entire la. 'hallenges stereot.es an( romotes an a!areness of am"iguous aearan'es, "oth

;ate:s final see'h an( 1etru'hio:s *ie!s ma. "e oen to 2uestion+ In fa't, in the last line of the la., Lu'entio imlies that

;ate, in the en(, allo!e( herself to "e tame( B:Tis a !on(er, ". .our lea*e, she !ill "e tame( soC 5?+ii+#/78+ 1erhas

Lu'entio imlies that ;ate an( 1etru'hio lanne( the !ager, an( that the. !orke( as a team to (ue the others out of their

mone.+ Throughout the la., ;ate a'ti*el. a''ete( 1etru'hio:s 'ourting an( taming e*en !hen she 'oul( ha*e (enie( him,

suggesting that here she also has the agen'. to sa. one thing an( mean another+ esite her initial resistan'e, ;ate seems

to *ie! her marriage as a 'han'e to fin( harmon. !ithin a res'ri"e( so'ial role, ultimatel. iml.ing that !e shoul( fin(

hainess an( in(een(en'e !ithin the roles to !hi'h !e are assigne(, not that !omen shoul( su"Gugate themsel*es to

men+

Lu'entio:s marriage takes a (ifferent turn, ho!e*er+ Through


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$4 P Romanti' 'ome(.

L$>G5PL$C84TT> P Aroun( #$/-, Lon(on

5$TO664!TP P #%-7

TO> P The o*erall tone of the la. is light an( 'omi', though the e>loration of larger so'ial 2uestions, su'h as the roer

relation of the se>es in marriage, len(s mu'h of the 'ome(. a more serious tone+

!TT>G!?T&@ P Unse'ifi', though resuma"l. sometime (uring the Italian Renaissan'e

!TT>G!?PL$C@ P 1a(ua, a 'it.)state in Ital. rominent (uring the Renaissan'e

P4OT$GO>!T P There is no single rotagonist ;atherine an( 1etru'hio are the main 'hara'ters+

&$AO4CO>6LCT P 1etru'hio:s attemt to BtameC ;atherine that is, to assert his authorit. in their marriage an( o*er'ome

her hothea(e( resistan'e to la.ing the role of his !ife

4!>G$CTO> P 1etru'hio an( ;atherine:s earl. *er"al 'onfli'ts ;atherine:s man. s'enes of shre!ish "eha*ior, in'lu(ing

her atta'k on G$CTO> P The "an2uet at Lu'entio:s house in A't ?, s'ene ii

T&! P Marriage as an e'onomi' institution the effe't of so'ial roles on in(i*i(ual hainess

&OT6! P isguise (omesti'ation fathers an( their 'hil(ren

!=&BOL! P 1etru'hio:s !e((ing 'ostume the ha"er(asher:s 'a an( tailor:s go!n

6O4!$5O8>G P 1etru'hio:s (e'laration to ;atherine in A't II that he is the man to tame her

the taming of the shrew, shakespeare

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