What aspects of 'The Taming of the Shrew' identify the play as a comedy?
Patrick Johnson, 11KO What aspects of 'The Taming of the Shrew' identify the play as a comedy? 'The Taming of the Shrew', written by William Shakespeare between 1589 and 1594, is a romantic comedy set in the Italian city of Padua. Since the play was written, the audience's idea of comedy has changed quite dramatically. In the fifteen hundreds, an audience would have enjoyed obvious, visual aspects of comedy such as we would see in a modern-day pantomime, whereas an audience watching the play today would also enjoy less obvious aspects such as sarcasm, irony and dry humour. Shakespeare, although aware of Queen Elizabeth's position as a strong and independent woman, also had to fulfil the expectations of the time. This is why the 'feminist' of the play comes out 'Tamed' at the end. Women were expected to be obedient to men, whether husband, father or elder, in the same way as commoners were subservient to the King and aristocracy, a model of society often referred to as the Great Chain of Being. This hierarchy supported belief in the Divine Right of Kings and, similarly, in man's superiority to woman. The fact that the play is set in Italy further strengthens the link with the Italian tradition of Commedia dell'Arte, one of the major influences on modern pantomime. The subject of 'The Taming of the Shrew' - who shall have sovereignty in marriage - is also part of a long and
English coursework essay- the taming of the shrew By Sugra Butt 10CMG
English coursework essay- the taming of the shrew By Sugra Butt 10CMG In the play the taming of the shrew I will be discussing about Katherine & Petruchio's behaviour towards each other through words, body language and stage craft. In the Elizabethan times men kept women as possession the women had many hard times coping without freedom & limited to what they could do out side also women were accompanied by men at all times because they were thought as being vulnerable. ST meeting: When Petruchio and Katherina first meeting, he winds her up by using the opposite ironic language for example "the prettiest Kate in Christendom" Petruchio makes mistakes and calls her "Kate" instead of Katherina she replies with "They call me Katherina that do talk of me" Katherina tries to correct Petruchio, she probably is very direct about her name being said right, but Petruchio ignores this comment and continues. He also says "Kate of my consolation" meaning his comfort, does he mean this or not? I believe that Petruchio doesn't, because it's only talk and just his way to woo Katherina, she keeps her distance away from Petruchio physically she feels awkward because it probably is the first guy flattering her but she argues back telling him to be moved. Petruchio physically asks her to sit on his lap "come sit on me" in a dirty, humour way. She replies with "asses are to bear
The Taming of the Shrew. What does the play say abour attitudes toward love and marriage and about the relationship between the sexes?
Caroline Seely 10H 20th December 2004 What does the play say about attitudes toward love and marriage and about the relationship between the sexes? What might be the reaction of a modern audience to what takes place on stage? It could be said that "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare is focused entirely on attitudes toward love and marriage and the relationship between the sexes. This is demonstrated in many ways throughout the play. For example in Act 1 Scene 1, Baptista Minola is telling his younger daughter's suitors that they cannot pursue her until his older daughter, Katherina, is married. "That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter Before I have a husband for the elder. " (Lines 50 and 51) Here we have an example of how the father is dictating the future of his daughter's in a way that would not happen in today's Western society. In view of the strict rules surrounding love and marriage, such as formal courtship and chaperoning, Lucentio has to pretend to be a schoolteacher in order to get close to Bianca with whom he has fallen in love. "You will be schoolmaster, And undertake the teaching of the maid- That's your device." (Act 1 Scene 1, lines 193-195) Today it is unlikely that a young man would need to go to these lengths in order to woo a girl. So we can see that the whole process of love and marriage starts off in quite a
We think people act the way that their true identity is.
We think people act the way that their true identity is. Every person has disguised their true identity at one point in time has. We display these false characters or put on our masks for some personal gain. Many times, complicated situations occur because of the changing of people's masks between reality and illusion (Cahn 39). In a similar way, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, does just that. He creates a soap operasituation by placing different masks on his characters. Katharina does not know how to properly act to gain attention, but instead she places a maskon herself that becomes her reality. She is known throughout Padua as the shrew of the town. In the story, you could imply that her mother is dead. Therefore, when Katharina was young, she played the role of mother to Bianca (Leonard 23). As the sisters grew older, Katharina did not need to play the maternal role to her younger sibling by being harsh. However, Katherina could not switch the gears of that character since everyone already knew her by that personality. She knows about Bianca's deceptive ways. Bianca is being courted by several men and has her choice of prospective husbands. However, due to customs in that era, Katharina, must be married before her younger sister. In the early acts, Katharina's attitude appears as if she does not care at all about getting married. Instead, she yearns for her
The Taming of the Shrew - Which was your favouriteact of the play? Why?
Claire Key Which was your favourite act of the play? Why? Taming of the Shrew is widely regarded as one of Shakespeare's greatest pieces of work. Within this play there is an induction and five other acts to accompany it. The acts within the play are all widely different in terms of style and of the content. Act 1 is the exposition where everything is set up, where many of the characters are introduced and aspects of them are clearly seen like Katherine and her explosive character, Act 2 is Development where things are taken further and plots are introduced to the fray, Act 3 is the climax of the play where the plots come to a head, this is also where twists and turns could appear, Act 4 is the complication where things could get complicated, like the fake Vincentio and the real Vincentio appearing in Padua and finally Act 5 is the denouement of the play where everything is rounded up and all the truths are exposed. The storyline of this play is very complicated and there are many sub plots and stories going on beneath the main storyline of Katherine and Petruchio, but the part of the storyline that I most enjoyed was Act IV, the complication Act. The Induction is completely separate to the main theme of the play but links in with key areas of the play like reality and appearance. Act III concludes after the wedding between Petruchio and Katherine. Straight away after
How important is the notion of Love and Romance within the play? - Taming of the Shrew.
How important is the notion of Love and Romance within the play? Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare is often called a romantic comedy. It was written during the Renaissance period and set in Padua, Italy. The play focuses on courtship and marriage. Especially highlighting how Elizabethan marriages were arranged mainly for money, land and power. Money was a large factor in marriages and often evidence of the dowry was required prior to the acceptance to marry from the father. The notion of love and romance was a factor in some marriages, however it was very different from our thoughts on love and romance today. This could be linked with the drastic change in the treatment of women overtime. Throughout the play we see evidence of the love and romance, especially from the youngsters such as Lucentio, but also see how love may not always turn out how expected. At the start of the play we are introduced to the main characters these include the Minola family, Lucentio, Tranio, Gremio and Hortensio. The topic of conversation is about marriage, where Baptist Minola will not allow Bianca, his youngest daughter to marry until her elder sister Katherina has found a husband. Act 1, Scene 1 shows how Elizabathean marriages come about, and who is in charge. Unlike today's romance and marriage the father, of the bride controls who and how the pre-nuptial and marriage plans
An analysis of the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina throughout the play 'The Taming Of The Shrew'
An analysis of the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina throughout the play 'The Taming Of The Shrew' Introduction: The Taming Of The Shrew is a comic play based around a town in Italy called Padua. In my view, the play is mainly centred round the relationship of Petruchio and Katherina. Petruchio, a young, ambitious and (it could be said) ravenous man has his heart set on locating a young and beautiful women with a wealthy background to be his wife. The fact that he will only be interested in the women for her money is indicated several times before the meeting of Petruchio and Katherina. P: "I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua." P: "Signor Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife- As wealth is burden of my wooing dance-" He also says that as long as she has money she could be: Old Curst Shrewd He thinks that her scolding will have no effect on him and he will succeed in overcoming Katherinas furious temper. Katherina is the daughter of Baptista, a wealthy man of Padua. She is one of two daughters and because of her widely known temper and spiteful personality she has failed to attract the attention from the suitors of Padua. They are all instead turned towards the silent beauty of her younger sister Bianca. This is obviously
The character of Baptista Minola plays a pivotal part in Shakespeare's, The Taming of the Shrew.
Disclaimer: While I have no control to the extent which you use this work, I ask you to RESPECT MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY and NOT DIRECTLY COPY THIS ESSAY. Feel free to use aspects of it in your work or use it as a basis for any work you may need to do, but once again don't plagiarize my work! Baptista Minola The character of Baptista Minola plays a pivotal part in Shakespeare's, The Taming of the Shrew. He is the wealthy father of Kate and Bianca and plays a large part in their lives, ultimately deciding who their husbands will be. While the actual part of Baptista is fairly minor, he is not a character to be underestimated in value and without him the work would be greatly diminished as it is Baptista's actions that lay the groundwork for the rest of the play. This important command that Baptista has on the play can be clearly seen early into the first act when he tells 2 of Bianca's would-be suitors: Hortensio and Gremio "For how I firmly am resolved you know. That is not to bestow my youngest daughter. Before I have a husband for the elder." This resolution to not let his youngest daughter, Bianca, get married until her older sister, Katherine (Kate), is married plays an important part in the story as it thus introduces the character of Petruchio as a suitor and husband for the shrewish, Kate. The social structure of the 16th century, the time in which this play is
In this essay I will be focusing on Katherina, a character from 'The Taming of the Shrew'. Then I will conclude with whether I see Katherina as bad-tempered or whether I see her as being imprisoned by society.
Page 1 Rachel Jones Interpretation of 'The Taming of The Shrew depends on whether you see Katherina as bad-tempered and wild, or imprisoned by society In this essay I will be focusing on Katherina, a character from 'The Taming of the Shrew'. Then I will conclude with whether I see Katherina as bad-tempered or whether I see her as being imprisoned by society. Katherina is just like any normal Elizabethan woman as she feels that marriage as well as being a wife is the proper role in life as did other Elizabethan girls of her time. This has brought out a bitterness in Katherina because of the feeling that her father Baptista has failed her, as he has not yet succeeded in finding Katherina a husband, she therefore voices her anger when she says; '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.'(Act 2, scene 1, lines 31 to 36). This shows that Katherina would feel it to be a deep personal insult if Baptista were to allow Bianca her younger sister to marry before her. The first thing we notice about Katherina is that she is very quick-witted as she insults Bianca's wooers. At the start of 'The Taming of the Shrew' we also see that Katherina uses a very low register of language,
Taming of the Shrew Coursework I am directing the scene where big changes take place between Katherina and Petruchios' relationship as husband and wife
Taming of the Shrew Coursework I am directing the scene where big changes take place between Katherina and Petruchios' relationship as husband and wife. Katherina's behaviour changes radically now that she is married to Petruchio and it seems so strange judging by her manner in the previous scenes. It is out of the ordinary because we are used to hearing the couple quarrel and contradict over everything. This takes place in the scenes before when Petruchio is determined to tame his wife by doing all sorts of cruel things to her such as, starving and depriving Katherina from her sleep all to break her spirit. However she stood up for herself by arguing with frustration so we will definitely notice a turning point. I am curious to know whether she is really tamed by Petruchio or is she just playing along. When Vicentio appears in the scene, it becomes quite amusing and humorous as Petruchio describes him as a 'heavenly' young lady to see how Katherina's will react to this. We also anticipate on what will happen when Vicentio arrives in Padua and finds out someone is claiming to be the father of his son. To direct act 4 Scene 5 I will need to look for the important lines starting with Katherina saying, ' The moon? The sun! It is not the moonlight now', to make the audience understand she is shocked and puzzled by what Petruchio has said, she must emphasise the word 'moon'