The Taming of the Shrew Blog Post

“The Taming of the Shrew” is a play within a play, told to Christopher Sly (or rather the actor who plays Christopher Sly, whose character believes) he is a lord because of a trick a real lord decided to play. Performed by actors playing actors playing characters (who often play other characters) the play within the play tells the story of Katherine and Bianca, two young women -played by young men- who are daughters of a wealthy family. Many of the characters act in disguise (either as each other, or different characters entirely) adding a layer of mystery to an already complicated plot.

It is likely that Shakespeare wrote “The Taming of the Shrew” this way (that is as a play within a play) to create distance between the story and audience. Many of the characters, themes, and stigmas present in the play would also likely be a part of everyday life in Elizabethan England. Without an idea of distance, and the ability to be able to laugh at the exchanges between Kate and Petruchio

  “Why, what’s a movable?” “A joint stool.” 

              or Vincentio and the Merchant,

  “Art thou his father?” “Ay”

the play would too closely resemble everyday life to be comfortable. Creating a sense of distance would also make it easier for the people coming to see the play to brush off, or even laugh off, the more concerning scenes. There are many scenes of violence and abuse, and many representations of sexism or stigmatism that an audience would rather not see.  

“The Taming of the Shrew” is very sexist and detrimental to women. Throughout the play, the definition of a good woman as someone who is docile, obedient, and silent is startlingly apparent. Shakespeare writes with the belief that ‘taming’ a disobedient woman is an achievement to be celebrated. Independent mindedness, spirit, and respect are condemned and criticized. Many women are seen only as possessions, equal to ox or to things. Many men are seen as jerks, which can only be summed up by Petruchio’s speech.

  “I will be master of what is mine own.

   She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,

   My household-stuff, my field, my barn,

   My horse, my ox my ass, my anything,”

In the hopes of holding out for an ending, reading “Taming of the Shrew” only more clearly illustrated the negative and harmful perceptions in many societies. For sure, though, the ending must be that Petruchio comes to respect Kate and realize that he loves her more for her independence than he would if she was docile. Lucentio and Bianca would get married, and Gremio and Grumio would reveal that they were one person all along. Yet, the ending was not that. “The Taming of the Shrew” ended with a very long speech by Katherine about the importance of obedience in woman.

It is difficult to know what Shakespeare intended when he wrote “The Taming of the Shrew”. His play can be viewed in many different ways. It could be that that was how he thought. It could also be a commentary of society at the time. What is the most difficult to read and accept about his play is the knowledge that is a representation of a real worldview. Many of the attitudes the characters express are reflective of the attitude of general society. Perhaps that is why Shakespeare wrote the “Taming of the Shrew”- to allow the audience to realize the attitudes they themselves had.