The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

Greetings Recapsters! Kate and Sheila dive into the Shakespearean comedy, 

The Taming of the Shrew. Kate is the older sister that is as easy to get along with as a mama bear robbed of her cubs. Her sister, Bianca, draws suitors like bees to flowers. Here’s the rub, their father forbids Bianca to wed until Kate is married. No one is up for this arduous task until Petruchio comes on the scene. He has come to Padua ‘to wive and thrive’ and Kate suits his liking, however, she resists so forcefully he calls her a wasp to which she replies,

 “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.”

How will Petruchio tame Kate? He shows up to their wedding very late wearing rags riding a nag. “He has some meaning in his mad attire.” Why was he late? What’s with his clownish clothes? Maybe, absence made Kate’s heart grow fonder and when he finally arrived she was thrilled that he wasn’t a no show. When asked about his clothes, Petruchio replied, 

“To me she’s married, not unto my clothes.” Then he whisks Kate away before their reception. 

Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘kill them with kindness’? He deprives Kate of food because it’s not good enough for her. Along with a new dress and the bed which were also not suitable for his new bride. As her ‘taming’ continues readers can see Kate slowly beginning to change into a better version of herself.

Some say Shakespeare crossed the line here. That he is a hater of  women but we beg to differ. He’s using humor and wit to show something very daring for the 1590s. Are you up for a bit of comedic culture? “...There’s small choice in rotten apples.” He is a wordsmith indeed, who but Shakespeare could make accident sound poetic…”’twas a fault unwilling.” 

The Taming of the Shrew: Act I - The Play's the Thing | Acast

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