The servants in the play are mainly dopey and dim-witted. They fool around stage acting stupidly and behaving erratically. As the majority of the audiences would not have had a proper education, so they would rely on these exaggerated actions and visual antics. An example of this would be when Petruchio returns home after the wedding, only to find his servants gossiping. A frantic scene follows where the servants all end up falling over each other etc. This kind of foolish behaviour would have entertained un-educated Elizabethan audiences.
All comedies by Shakespeare follow the same simple structure, similar to all other plays. The play starts with an exposition stage, which is when the story emerges and things start to go wrong and get out of hand. Next is the complication stage, which is when the play becomes even more complicated and everyone appears stuck. However, finally is the resolution stage where all the problems are solved. In tragedy plays, the play ends with the death of the hero or heroine, but in the majority of comedy plays, the play ends with a marriage. The tangled plot has been unwoven and problems solved.
Petruchio immediately sets out to ‘tame’ Katherina and her wild personality. Not only is he physically stronger than her, he is also wittier – this is constantly apparent as he persistently winds Kate up:
“Pet. You lie, in faith for you are call’d plain Kate,
And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst;
But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom.
Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate, …”
In this quotation, Petruchio is outlining his superiority over Katherina by winding her up by being patronising. After a direct order to not call her Kate, Petruchio goes on to persistently call her ‘Kate’ to show his power. This not only annoys her, but weakens her and wears her down. He shows that he is not afraid to confront her – making it clear from the outset that he is out to tame her. Petruchio’s methods of taming Katherina would appear disrespectful to modern audiences however they would have merely been humorous to Elizabethans. Throughout the play, the taming process continues, becoming more severe as the play progresses. At one point, Petruchio starves Kate, and deprives her of sleep to physically weaken her. Much of Petruchio’s speeches consist of ‘c’s and ‘k’s. This harsh phonology could suggest his dominance. Also, the majority of ‘Kate’ repetitions are stressed using iambic pentameter. After a long taming period, Kate eventually ‘caves in’. She begins to realize that the only way she is going to get what she wants is to agree with what ever Petruchio says.
“Kat: Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet
Pet: Why, how now Kate. I hope thou are not mad.
This is a man, old, wrinkled, wither’d”
This is said directly after Petruchio comments there a beautiful young woman present. This also adds comedy to the play, as the person being addressed is in fact an old rather fat man, nothing like a beautiful young woman. This is a pivotal moment in the play as it is the turning point, where Katherina finally gives into Petruchio’s unrelenting taming process. After this, Petruchio’s taming of Kate is complete.
Commedia dell’Arte played a great part in the way that Shakespeare wrote his plays. The 16th century society were great supporters of Commedia dell’Arte, which influenced Shakespeare and his comedy plays. Commedia dell’Arte originated in Italy in the mid 1550’s when pros formed companies. They all took after each other and formed larger groups. One of the initial companies was known as Gelosi. As the years wore on, further companies – Unite, Desiosi and Fideli – formed. Zannis were a main feature of Commedia dell’Arte – in The Taming of the Shrew; Tranio would be an example.
The Taming of the Shrew is revolved around disguises and deception. Straight away, this concept is highlighted as the fat drunkard is deceived and tricked into thinking he is a noble. Later in the play, Hortensio dresses as a music teacher, Lucentio as a latin teacher. Tranio as Lucentio and pedent as Vincentio. This, as well as being amusing, adds dramatic irony. For example, when Tranio meets the real Vincentio when Tranio is dressed as Lucentio – this is dramatic irony and is humorous for the audience. Such role swaps and elaborate dress is derived from Commedia dell’Arte.
Throughout the play, there is much wordplay and punning to heighten the comedy. The more sophisticated members of the audience – particularly the upper classes and especially royalty such as Queen Elizabeth – would have understood and found them funny. Also this punning appeals to modern audiences.
“Pet: Here, sirrah Grumio, knock I say.
Gru: Knock sir? Whom should I knock? …”
Here, the word ‘knock’ is being played upon. The word was understood by Grumio – the dim-witted servant – to mean insult someone, where Petruchio meant it as to knock on the door. This simple misunderstanding via wordplay would have been humorous to both Elizabethan audiences and modern day audiences.
The subject of marriage in the Elizabethan era could also be a very humorous subject. In The Taming of the Shrew, it not only challenges the stereotypical marriage ceremony but creates irony and humour. This is shown on many occasions. Straight away, Petruchio makes a mockery of the marriage ceremony by attending the marriage in comical rags – which also embarrasses Kate in public, wearing her down once again. Soon after, he punches the priest in the face, while providing comedy; this also underlines the disrespect shown for the marriage ceremony. Marriage was generally seen as the underlining statement that made a woman the husband’s possession, something which Katherine certainly despised. This is also where there is some irony, as the most unlikely of suitors: Petruchio – a chauvinistic male, and Katherina – a sworn feminist, turn out to have a successful marriage. The marriage of Bianca and Lucentio ends up as less successful than the marriage of Petruchio and Katherina. This could be because Lucentio sees Bianca as a trophy wife, as his possession. But as Petruchio and Katherina have sexual chemistry, they are able to work out their differences and become a successful couple. This is shown and re-enforced when Hortensio, Lucentio and Petruchio have a bet to see whose wife is the most obedient and shall appear on command. Lucentio and Hortensio are both overly confident and see Petruchio as a fool for making such a bet; however they are shamed when they both reject the order to attend to their respective husbands. Then Katherina appears on command with both Bianca and Hortensio’s wife in hand, and appears fully obedient. This scene shows faults in the marriage between Lucentio and Bianca, and shows the strength and the bond that is shared between Petruchio and Katherina, and also the obedience that Katherina has learned – she has been tamed.
Whilst wordplay is regularly used for entertainment purposes, it is also used as a method to tame Kate.
“Kat: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Pet: My remedy is, then, to pluck it out.
Kat: Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies
Pet: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
In his tail.
Kat: In his tongue.”
Here, Petruchio and Katherina have wordplay. Petruchio says he is perfectly able to defend himself against Kate and her ‘sting’. Kate responds that he is a fool, and too stupid to find it. The argument continues, and not only is the amusing to the audience, but it another example of where Petruchio grinds Kate down and tames her. Another good example of this is:
“Kat: A joint-stool.
Pet: Thou hast hit it: come, sit on me.
Kat: Asses are made to bear, and so are you.”
Here, Petruchio is implying sexual remarks. By saying come sit on me, he is not only degrading her by ordering her to please him, but also defining his superiority over her by beating her again in a war of words. This sexual hint would appear funny to an Elizabethan audience, also this scene would be frantic and exaggerated – appealing to those less educated members of the audience. There is also a pun on the word stool, verbal comedy. Throughout the play, Petruchio underlines his superiority over Kate and how he will tame her and make all the decisions. Petruchio shows he has no intention of letting Kate control the marriage in anyway at all, and immediately sets out to show her who is boss.
“Pet: And will you, nill you, I will marry you”
Here Petruchio is underlining his dominance in making up her mind about marriage. This also shows the lack of input a woman in Elizabethan times had over the decision of marriage. Many times in The Taming of the Shrew, the word dowry is mentioned. This shows the importance that money had in marriage and the influence it had.
The Taming of the Shrew also had many messages for society at the time, and for society of the present. The play shows that women should be valued and accepted in society, and not be possessions in a marriage. By showing that the marriage between Lucentio and Bianca is not the glaring success it was predicted to be, because Lucentio does not value her as a wife but merely as a trophy, shows that women should be valued. Bianca frequently shows that she is not ‘daddies little girl’ when Baptista is not around. She calls Lucentio a fool for betting on her obedience and bursts into tears when Baptista arrives at the scene where she is being harassed by her sister Kate. Therefore we are shown that appearances can be deceptive, and also that Katherina is eventually tamed. ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ also highlights the sexism that’s apparent in every-day society that goes unnoticed. This is shown through the way that men talk about women when they are not present. A good example of sexist and men being chauvinistic is when Hortensio, Lucentio and Petruchio have a one-hundred crown bet on whose wife is most obedient. In modern-day society this is seen as very sexist and disrespectful. Another message in The Taming of the Shrew is that ‘Honesty is the best Policy’. While this seems somewhat ironic, it is shown that when every character comes clean about disguises, plots and plans – everything is solved. Another controversial message in the play, is that you shouldn’t judge on material wealth. Petruchio makes his intentions of marrying Katherina for wealth for Hortensio clearly known towards the start of the play, regardless of they women of who he is to wed. This is also seen as very arrogant.
The concept of humour in Elizabethan society and the way humour is perceived in modern day theatre may seem a mile apart, yet they have many distinct similarities. Both rely on wordplay and punning to add a sophisticated edge to the play and provide humour. Yet the bulk of the comedy comes through exaggerated stage actions and frantic antics. These come across in scenes where people are fighting, arguing or chasing. Two good examples are when Katherina chases Bianca and when Petruchio’s servants run around ridiculously when he returns home from the wedding. Both show extreme actions on stage to provide humour to the audience.