Taming of the Shrew
Uploaded by hazelbazel on May 23, 2000
William Shakespeare was a playwright, as well as a poet. Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, England, 1565 to John Shakespeare, a glover, and Mary Arden of farming stock. Shakespeare was the oldest of his three brothers (there were also four sisters). Shakespeare was educated at a local grammar school, then married Anne Hathaway in 1582. Together they had a daughter, Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith. Sbakespeare soon after moved to London to become an actor. During the plague, theatres were closed in fear of spreading disease; Shakespeare wrote poems, sonnets, and plays during the timr the plague took over.
The Taming of The Shrew
The Taming of The Shrew is one of Shakespeare's famous comedies. The play reflects the issue of dominance in marriages. Katherine is a violent tempered, strong-willed woman,, or a shrew, while Biance is a very soft, beautiful girl- both daughters of a wealthy land owner, Baptista Minola, who wants to ensure both of his daughters get married. In order for Baptista Minola to consent to Bianca's romances, Katherine must get married. Therefore, Biana's journey begins to find a mate for Kate.
Paying "twenty thousand crowns" to the man who indeed married Katherine, as well as provide for her, the element of love need not be in the marriage, leads Pitruchio into the scene. Pitruchio was determined to "tame" the shrew by rewarding her if she behaved and was good wife who suppressed feelings, and to punish her when Katherine is disobediant and disagrees with Pitrochio.
With Katherine being married, Bianca, too, gets married. The play ends with Katherine teaching the other newly weds how a woman is to behave in a marriage.
I am ashamed that women are so simple,
To offer was where they should kneel for peace,
Or seek rule, supremacy, and sway,
When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.