Review of Taming Of the Shrew

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Drama Coursework                Sabine Efiannayi

        The Taming of the Shrew        

                                        Review

I watched an abridged version of this play on Monday, 13 October 2008 in the drama hall of my school Kidbrooke School. It was written by William Shakespeare, directed by Miss Hagan and performed by the Drama Club.

The play was about a father, who has two daughters Katherine, the elder one and Bianca. Many men fancy Bianca, however she cannot be wed as the father Baptista Minola decides that Katherine the eldest should marry first, if she has not been taken as a wife no one could marry Bianca. Many men in the city of Padua disagree with the decision as the all are in love with Bianca and in fear of Katherine and therefore try to make deals with Baptista, who stays firm to his conditions. A member of the community has a not very noble friend outside the city that he calls in order to marry Katherine, the shrew. As he introduces his companion to Baptista and explains their reason for being at his house; Petruchio is then given the permission to marry Katherine, who does not agree with this as her father tells her the good news. Thereafter the wedding followed an Katherine moved to her new husband who immediately starts taming her as he sees her bad behaviour; his ways of taming included starving and psychological conversations, that enforce her to believe whatever he says. Meanwhile at home the younger sister Bianca is an affair with a man who disguised himself as a tutor and is in love with Bianca. Lutencio then weds Bianca secretly but Baptista catches them red-handed; therefore it was time for Lutencio to explain to him who he was and what he feels for his new wife. Later on a feast is arranged and the whole family is invited, and so are their friends. As the men introduce themselves and talk about present day issues their wives go out to have some time with each other away from their husbands. During their conversation the men wonder how it was possible to tame Katherine and want to find out whose wife is most obedient; each man called his wife to come to him but only Katherine replied and came to her husband. This amazes everyone and Petruchio asks her to bring in the before called wives to their husbands and to explain how a woman should treat her husband.

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In the play the issue of a role of a woman is explored and how her attitude towards her husband should be. It shows what was expected what women should be like, meaning that they did not have their own opinion but had to agree with whatever is wanted by their husbands. In the end speech of Katherine ways of behaviour towards a husband are even more highlighted, because she narrates values he herself did not believe in; such as treating your husband like a king and being lucky to have him to take care of you.

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