'The taming of the shrew' - Examine carefully your chosen scene and discuss how well in your view Shakespeare succeeds in presenting good theatre with a variety of dramatic situations in order to entertain his audience.
'The taming of the shrew' Examine carefully your chosen scene and discuss how well in your view Shakespeare succeeds in presenting good theatre with a variety of dramatic situations in order to entertain his audience. Shakespeare wrote 'The Taming of the Shrew' towards the end of the 16th century. The play was aimed at all social classes, meaning that there had to be humour in the play to suit everyone's taste. The scene that I have chosen to examine is Act 5, Scene 2. Which is the last scene of the play. This scene follows on from Act 5, Scene 1 where Katherina has just reluctantly kissed Petruchio and Petruchio feels very pleased with the way everything has turned out. It then enters Act 5, Scene 2, where Lucentio is welcoming everyone to the banquet, which was being held to celebrate the three marriages. I chose to do this scene because I think that this scene rounds the play off nicely as nearly all of the characters are there in it and there are a variety of dramatic situations. After Lucentio has finished welcoming everyone Petruchio says "Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!". If I was directing the play I would make Petruchio butt in with that straight after Lucentio has finished talking because I think that he is saying it quite sarcastically, as he was wanting to draw attention to himself because previously in the play we learnt that he is quite mad
The Taming of the Shrew By William Shakespeare - Compare and contrast the characters of Katherina and Bianca.
The Taming of the Shrew By William Shakespeare Compare and contrast the characters of Katherina and Bianca The sisters', Katherina and Bianca, are the principal subjects providing the main contrast in the play, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. Katherina is the fire-breathing, man-eating, despised, older sister of Bianca, the pleasant, beautiful, younger sister, adored by all. When she first enters the play, Katherina appears to be a very unhappy, volatile young woman. We are told that she scares men when Gremio and Hortensio proceed to tell us: "She's too rough for me"; "No mates for you, unless you were of gentler, milder mould"; "From all such devil's good Lord deliver us!". This suggests that she is so aggressive that she puts off men, however good her looks may be. It is also apparent when she answers to comments like these that she is hot-blooded: "To comb your noddle with a three legged stool and paint your face and use you like a fool". Bianca on the other hand, appears to be the perfect woman. It is as if she lightens up rooms with her dazzling presence. All men adore her and never say a bad word against her. When she first speaks in the play, her words are peaceful and loving: "Sister, content you in my discontent", attempting to calm her sister's fiery mood. Their father thinks very highly of her and this is shown when she
Discuss the presentation of Petruchio throughout Shakespeare’s play: Taming of the Shrew.
Discuss the presentation of Petruchio throughout Shakespeare's play: Taming of the Shrew. The question of identity is the main theme being challenged by Shakespeare and in different ways all the characters in the play are used as devices to question aspects of human identity and perceptions of identity. This question arises in the induction, with Sly's transition from "drunkard" to "Lord", and concludes in the final scene, with Kate's transition and submission from "shrew" to a dominated wife, " Thy husband is thy lord". Shakespeare deliberately built Petruchio in layers, so that the audience, producer and actor could have their own representation of him, this all adds to his complex and ambiguous nature. Petruchio does not meditate on a reasonable level, nor should he, he is not intended as a 'Hamlet' or 'Macbeth', he is an exaggerated character with exaggerated features, however Shakespeare can present a overriding reality through him, as he (as well as Kate) is 'tamed' to love. The play is a boisterous farce therefore it is wrong for an audience to expect too much from the characterization. It is a comedy of character with implications and hidden stories beyond the notional story of the title and because of this the character of Petruchio is more of a caricature than a rounded, psychologically believable character. However, William Shakespeare has created more than a
The Taming of the Shrew was a fantastic play performed at the Globe Theatre in London and written by William Shakespeare.
Katrina Williamson 10R 4/10/03 The Taming of the Shrew The Taming of the Shrew was a fantastic play performed at the Globe Theatre in London and written by William Shakespeare. It's perhaps the most famous play ever written about the battle of the sexes. Baptista, a rich man of Padua, has two daughters: Katherina and Bianca. Katherina is described as a shrew - a scolding tongue and a bad temper and her father has stated that no one shall wed Bianca (her lovable sister) until Katherina has been married. Lucentio of Pisa, a suitor to Bianca, devises a scheme in which he and Tranio (his servant) will switch clothes, and so disguised, Lucentio offers his services as a tutor for Bianca in order to get closer to her. At his point, Petruchio of Verona enters Padua to visit his friend Hortensio (another suitor to Bianca). Attracted by Katherina's large offering, Petruchio decides to woo her. Surprisingly, Petruchio finds Katherina charming and pleasant. A marriage is arranged, and Petruchio immediately sets out to tame Katherina through a series of increasingly worse tricks. This involves everything from showing up late to his own wedding to constant contradictions to whatever she says, even claiming that the sun is the moon. After many trying days and nights, an exhausted Katherina is
Analyse Shakespeare's use of dramatic and poetic effects in Act 2, Scene 1 of 'The Taming of the Shrew'
Analyse Shakespeare's use of dramatic and poetic effects in Act 2, Scene 1 of 'The Taming of the Shrew' Shakespeare's Taming of the shrew is an infamous Elizabethan play which has caused a lot of controversy. Act two, scene one is a key section of the play as it confronts many issues such as women's passive position in society, the importance of dowries, patriarchal society, among many other pressing concerns of the time. In this scene Petruchio sets out to 'woo' Katherina, who at the beginning is tying up her younger, prettier and more favoured sister. Following this Bianca's suitors, disguised as tutors, arrive along with Petruchio who demands to go out with the 'fair and virtuous' Katherina. Baptista and Petruchio then discuss the most crucial part, the dowry he will receive; and after this conversation Petruchio decides to marry her. Shakespeare uses many dramatic and poetic devices in this part of Taming of the Shrew; these include sexual puns, imagery, stichomythia, disguise, violence and manipulative language. Katherina is well known for being violent and shrewish at the beginning of Shakespeare's Taming of the shrew; she is seen tying up her younger sister; this very dramatic stagecraft and is an eye-catching opening as a woman from such a respectable background would not have dreamed of being as violent and angry as Katherina. Her father even admits to her being
William Shakespeares Taming of the Shrew
"The Taming of the Shrew" is a play that shocked and entertained audiences in the Elizabethian era. The play was scripted by William Shakespeare, perhaps the most gifted writer that era had witnessed. William Shakespeare finalised the play in 1589 and it was thought to be one of his first plays. The position woman had and played in the Elizabethan era was cruel and bitter. Woman had no rights in literally anything; hence they were regarded as totally inferior to men. They were forced to stay at home to clean the home, cook the food, and bear children. If they had servants they would just lend a hand. Girls weren't permitted to attend school; subsequently they stayed at home entertaining themselves or helping their mothers ease their daily chores. "The Taming of the Shrew" is a Shakespeare classic, which addresses the rights woman had. The play is about two contrasting daughters, on their individual paths to marriage. "Bianca", the younger of the two, is compared to an angel by many, whilst in contrast "Katharina" is portrayed as a "shrew". "Bianca" yearns to marry, but only can, once her intractable sibling "Katharina" agrees to. The main male character "Petruchio" forces his way in to Katharina's astringent heart, initially for the money he will receive, once they marry. The audience are aware that he has a huge battle ahead to win her love and respect and in doing so he
Analyse the Presentation of the Servant-Master Relationship in 'The Taming of the Shrew'
Analyse the Presentation of the Servant-Master Relationship in 'The Taming of the Shrew' When 'The Taming of the Shrew' was written around 1593-1594, the working classes and servants made up the vast majority of the British population. This led to common social stereotyping of the servant classes. This can be clearly seen in some of Shakespeare's early plays including 'The Taming of the Shrew'. In this play there are many characters that are bound together by the servant-master relationship. These include: The Lord and his Huntsmen in the induction, Petruchio's domination over Grumio throughout the play and the comradeship between Tranio and Lucentio. Shakespeare explores a number of different types of relationship between the classes in a way that was only possible on the stage. This is the physical enactment of the servant master relationship. There are two different types of servant-master relationship shown in the play. One is the traditional, where the master dominates and sometimes abuses the servant so that he obeys his master's will. The other is the idealised, rare, if existent, bond, where there is equality and mutual respect. Through this comparison, the play re-evaluates the power of the servant's bond with his master and the portrayal of wives as servants. As much of Shakespeare's contemporary audience would have experienced this type of relationship, more
To What Extent is Katherina Tamed by the End of the Play?
To What Extent is Katherina Tamed by the End of the Play? When I first began to read 'The Taming of the Shrew' I had no prior knowledge of the play and so approached each word of the text with a fresh and anticipating outlook. My curiosity to the plays content was initially sparked by the title; due to my ignorance of Elizabethan vocabulary I was unaware of the meaning of 'shrew' in this sense, and assumed the play would follow the trails and tribulations of a man perfecting a rodent novelty act. Much to my disappointment I discovered that this was not the case when I became aware of the second definition for 'shrew', which remains in the dictionary to date and is described as: 'a bad-tempered unpleasant woman'. Upon the completion of the play it also occurred to me, with Shakespeare's lack of stage direction both for the actors and staging, that just as I had done with the title, it would be possible for an individual's interpretation of events within the play itself, to be profoundly different to that of another reader. In my essay I will attempt to evaluate a number of different interpretations of Katherina's 'taming' and aim to explore the difference between a 'tamed' Katherina and simply a 'changed' Katherina, if indeed there is a difference. To gauge how much Katherina changes during the play I must first establish her character as it is when we are first introduced
Katharina or Kate, the shrew of William Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew is sharp-tongued, quick-tempered,and prone to violence and violent outbursts, especially to anyone who tries towin her love. This is shown from the beginning in Act O
Katharina or Kate, the shrew of William Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew is sharp-tongued, quick-tempered, and prone to violence and violent outbursts, especially to anyone who tries to win her love. This is shown from the beginning in Act One with the scene among Hortensio and Gremio and her. When Gremio proclaims her "too rough" (I.i.55) and Hortensio claims that they want mates "of gentler, milder mould" (I.i.60), she strikes back with such words as "To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool and paint your face and use you like a fool." (I.i.64-65) Her hostility and anger towards her suitors is infamous within the town of Padua. Her anger and rudeness actually hides her deep sense of insecurity, not to mention her jealousy towards her sister, Bianca. She speaks these words to her father; "What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see she is your treasure, she must have a husband; I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day and for your love to her lead apes in hell. Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep till I can find occasion of revenge." (II.i.31-36). Clearly she is spiteful because he has more love for Bianca. They feel that she may become an old maid with no husband or children, and she herself believes it to be a possibility. The Elizabethan era was a hard time for most women. When you are born and raised in a society that is male dominated, you
Examine the ways in which Shakespeare present issues connected with marriage and male and female relationships in taming of the shrew?
Taming of the shrew Examine the ways in which Shakespeare present issues connected with marriage and male and female relationships in taming of the shrew? Shakespeares taming of the shrew is play set in Padua a rich merchants city, the piece is about marriage and covers the genres of comedy and drama. The main theme is how people behave in order to get their desired marriage partner. Shakespeare came from an era of when marriage was more complex and many issues were linked with it such as wealth dowry beuty and behaviour. These Topics all reflect in the taming of the shrew, I will discuss how the below stated scenes show this. Act 1 Scene 1 Act 2 Scene 1 Act 3 Scene 2 Act v Scene 2 In Act 1 Scene 1 of the play it starts with two men from pizza. One called Lucentio and the other his servant tranio. They both oversee the problem of two men called hortensio and gremoi who are in love with Bianca a young beautiful girl who cant be married until her older suister katherina is firstdue to the wishe sof their farther Baptistab who happens to be gremois neighbour. The quandary is thatkatherina is very ill tempered and disobedientwhich is causing her to receive any problems. When lucentiom sees bisanca he ammediatly falls in love with hwre. Convieniently he over hears baptista stating he need tutors for his daughters. Lucentio decide s to get rid of his true identy and pose