The Taming of the Shrew

 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

A summary: A wealthy Padua merchant, Baptista, has two daughters. One day Lucentio, a student, comes to Padua, sees Bianca, the younger sister, and falls madly in love with her. He has heard, though, that Baptista will not allow Bianca to be married before her older sister, Katherina, a very forceful character who has a scornful attitude to men and expresses that without restraint. While all this is going on Petruchio, a young friend of Hortensio from Verona pays a visit to his friend and hears the story about the feisty Kate. He sees her as a challenge, which he decides to rise to. Baptista welcomes this as he is fed up with Kate’s disruptive behavior, that makes family life difficult. He accepts Petruchio’s offer of marriage and although Kate opposes it, she cannot do anything about a father’s right to marry his daughter off. Petruchio arrives at the church outlandishly dressed and whisks her off to Verona as soon as the marriage is pronounced. During the journey, Kate rebels against her husband but he begins training her to obey him. On arrival at his house, Petruchio mistreats her and instructs his servants to do the same. She is denied everything she wants for civilized life, including food and sleep. She is not allowed new clothes or any luxury. That wears her resistance down and eventually, she submits and becomes an obedient wife. Lucentio and Bianca, having fallen in love, have run off and married secretly. They return now, while Petruchio and Kate are visiting and Baptista, relieved that it’s all turned out better than he had thought it would, hosts a party for his daughters.

Review: I originally wanted to read this because it is what the movie "Ten Things I Hate About You" is based on and I LOVE that movie. I enjoyed the play, but it was very different than what I expected just because of the movie. I did like it, but I don't like the idea that Kate submits to being a regular wife at the end because she was so passionate and herself at the end, and then marriage just makes her what a woman "should be" and I hate that idea in the literature that a woman can be one of two things: A wife/caretaker type or a scandalous woman (whore) who is the downfall of man. It's upsetting to see and especially in this, so I am glad the movie changed that part of it. 

Star: 3/5

Favorite Quote(s)

“Better once than never, for never too late.”

“My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.”