...Skyler Conklin Dr. Boecherer 04/09/15 The Taming of the Shrew The concept of someone telling you are something that you are not is one thing and the chances of you believing them right away are not very high. But if that person repeatedly tells you enough times that you are one thing, you will begin question yourself and eventually believe that it is reality. The idea of appearance in The Taming of the Shrew is performed with the same idea. Focusing on the essence of appearance, Shakespeare uses the story of Christopher Sly’s taming and its correlatives, and Kate’s taming to show that appearance becomes reality. Eventually, the characters in The Taming of the Shrew obscure the lines between reality and illusion, making them the same. In the beginning of the play, the induction with Christopher Sly shows the phenomenon of illusion becoming reality with the help of appearance. A rich lord kidnaps Sly, a drunken beggar, and decided to play a trick on him. “Sirs, I will practice on this drunken man. What think you, if he were conveyed to bed, Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers, A most delicious banquet by his bed, And brave attendants near him when he wakes, Would not the beggar then forget himself?”(Ind.1.36-41). When Sly awakens in an unfamiliar setting, he begins to question the truth of his circumstance, but after a while, Sly he begins to accept the illusion that he is the lord he appears to be. “Upon my life, I am a lord indeed, And not a tinker...
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...1346 words In Act 4 Scene 1, how and to what extent does Shakespeare create comedy through the presentation of dominance? In this scene Shakespeare creates comedy through dominance to a certain extent, Shakespeare shows two types of dominance, physical and mental dominance. Also, Shakespeare has made powers very clear in this scene. For instance, Petruchio is at the very top of the pecking order; as he controls everyone in the scene, Grumio is head servant, he comes second in the scene then the other servants…and then Katharina, Petruchio’s wife, whom has no power in the scene. She is manipulated and told what to do by every other character. The dominance creates comedy in this scene as the Elizabethan audience would find is amusing due to the roles played and how people are treated in relation to their rank in society, they would find it funny to see servants challenge their social role so long as they were put back in their place at the end. However, a modern audience is more likely to find the dominance insulting and misogynistic and no amusing at all. Act 4 scene 1 present’s dominance throughout and I am going to explore the comedy Shakespeare reveals through the assertive attitude he displays. At the start of the scene Shakespeare uses sexual connotation during Grumio and Curtis’s comical row. ‘Curtis: Away, you three-inch fool, I am no beast! Grumio: Am I but three inches? Why, thy horn is a goof, and so long am I at the least.’ Lines 19-21. The two servants are...
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...preserving a certain history depending on when it is written and leafing through pages of even a fictional story gives us ripe and supple knowledge of how maybe life would be at that given time. William Shakespeare, an author most high schoolers dread and professors squeal upon, allows us a glimpse of what life would be like in his time through his numerous plays. In a specific comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, he paints out a portrait of what love, marriage and the treatment of women were like in the Elizabethan period. There have been thousands of readings of this play, reproductions, analyzations and even controversy...
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...conflict created by the power holding characters of the play. Once in the green world, there is a lack of societal rules and the conflict can resolve leading to the formation of a new society, indicated by some kind of party or festival (Frye 163). Frye further explains that this structural component of comedy is the origin of comedic form. At first William Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew seems to have a clear message that the green world theory does not define the structure of the play and that Petruchio tames Katherine. While this could be an interpretation of the play, I find it unlikely that this is the case. The analysis of the film, 10 Things I Hate About You, opens the door visually to see the green world theory in action, which allows the reader to appreciate The Taming of the Shrew as a comedy as well as reinterpret its conclusion. The green world theory is the structural backbone of The Taming of the Shrew, and commands that Katherine and Petruchio change over the course of the play and ultimately both are tamed. The green world theory can be seen in 10 Things by analyzing Frye’s key elements of comedy, such as form, character type, and repetition. The movie opens in an old society where Kat and Bianca’s father, who plays the role of the senex (as Frye suggests, a character in charge of the plays society) and strictly controls the environment in a way that is not fitting for the time period (Frye 171). He does not allow either of his daughters to date, and this...
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...A Comparison of Ten Things I Hate About You and Taming of the Shrew Summary: Examines the effect of social and cultural constraints on characters in Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare and Ten Things I Hate About You, a film based on the bard's play. ________________________________________ The story of The Taming of the Shrew is one that raises important issues both in the Shakespearean text and in the modern appropriation 10 Things I Hate About You. How does each composer's use of this story reflect the time in which each was composed" The Taming of the Shrew was written in the Elizabethan Era in England at a time when men were considered to be superior to women. The patriarchal society of this time is reflected to a large extent in the text and various implications of traditional values can be noted. The modern appropriation, Ten Things I Hate About You, goes along the same story line however it is quite evident that the different context has a significant impact upon the content. The most obvious indicator of the type of society is given through the medium that each text is presented in. The Taming of the Shrew is a play and was staged for audiences during the early 17th century. The fact that Shakespeare chose to write a play rather than, say, a comic strip or screenplay, indicated that it was the most popular form of entertainment at the time. The best way for Shakespeare to have his work known was through the most popular form of entertainment. The language...
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...with a changing world some aspects of our life stay the same even from the beginning of time. William Shakespeare wrote “The Taming of the Shrew” in the time period between 1590 and 1592. William Shakespeare was well known for his unique language and development of new writing styles and words. Along with his new developments you see that he wrote a majority of his works in unrhymed iambic pentameter just like within “The Taming of the Shrew.” In “The Taming of the Shrew” we see how the the attraction to a person with a brute and careless personality is dug deep within roots of female to male attraction. In William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” you see how men will change the personality amongst their true self to be more attracted...
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...Shakespeare wrote “The Taming of the Shrew” and in 1999 “10 Things I Hate About You” made its debut in theaters as a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. Both works are comedies that deal with the theme of gender playing a part in character’s roles in society. The modern adaptation, directed by Gil Junger, sets the plot in a high school and adds more of a teenage romance twist on the story. Although “10 Things I Hate About You” may not follow the exact storyline of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, there are many similarities between the two works including characters, dialogue, and theme (Andrews vi, IMDb). William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Shakespeare. In 1582,...
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...Katherina – Shrew or Not So Shrew? According to Merriam-Webster (n.d.), a shrew can be defined as an unpleasant, bad-tempered woman. From the moment we are introduced to Katherina in Act I, Scene I, we see that she lives up to her reputation as a shrew through her exchange of words with her father when two suitors, Gremio and Hortensio, come to call upon Bianca for their wife. Baptista tells the two gentlemen not to look at his youngest daughter, before he has a husband for his elder daughter. He asks the gentlemen if either of them love Katherina. Gremio states “To cart her rather. She’s too rough for me.” (Shakespeare, trans. 2009, 1.1.55-56). Katherina sharply responds to her father: “I pray you, sir, it is your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates?” (Shakespeare, trans. 2009, 1.1.57-58). Hortensio responds by stating; “Mates, maid? How mean you that? No mates for you unless you were of gentler, milder mold.” (Shakespeare, trans. 2009, 1.1.59-60). Kate quickly responds to his harsh criticism by stating “I’faith sir, you shall never need to fear; iwis it is not halfway to her heart. But if it were, doubt not her care should be to comb your noddle with a three-legged stool and paint your face, and use you like a fool.” (Shakespeare, trans. 2009, 1.1.60-65), and in the movie throws a stool down at him. This is our first indication that Katherina is not the usual woman of this time period. As the play and movie progresses, we see that Katherina is a very...
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...to pursue her, but she soon warms up to him because he also does not try to conform to the social standards their high school has set. Patrick looks at dating Kat like a paying job at first, but then falls for her when he figures out how witty and clever she is. Both characters are subject to a lot of rumors about them and they take comfort in the fact that they’re both basically rejects. Kat puts on the attitude of being super tough to hide the fact that she has been hurt in the past and also to protect how sensitive she really is. If she actually did not care about what people thought she would not try so hard to make them think she is unapproachable. Which, in fact, is not true because...
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...The Tamer versus the Trainer Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew and Henry Higgins in Pygmalion are similar characters but with very different methods. The periods in time in which these plays take place are determining factors in the behaviors of the characters involved. The Taming of the Shrew takes place in the Elizabethan Era at a time when men were considered to be superior to women. Pygmalion takes place in the Victorian Era where social roles were viewed natural and status was acquired among most of London’s society. These two characters in their periods of time can be perceived as humanitarians or professionals; but really they are both perfect examples of how pride and self centeredness can make a man take on the complicated task of taming or transforming a woman. A comparison of their differences will reveal their successes but with very dissimilar results. Petruchio is a quick witted wealthy bachelor with a disregard for social decorum in search for a rich wife to increase his fortune. He doesn’t care if a woman is ugly, old, or shrewish as long as she has money. He sets off to Padua to visit a friend and hears about Katherine Minola. Katherine has a reputation of having a temper and an acid tongue, in short she’s a shrew; but her father is rich. Petruchio despite Katherine’s reputation agrees to marry her because money is what makes him happy. Let the taming begin! In his taming efforts, he acts like a jerk on his wedding day and throughout...
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...and some say that one cannot experience love at first sight because one does not really know someone until they spend quality time with the person they believe that they are meant to be with. The concept and accepted, societal definition of a real, serious relationship has changed so much throughout history, and Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You are two examples that show this progression. In the 1600’s, relationships and love were very rare, men just wanted to marry the most beautiful woman; whereas in modern times, relationships are portrayed as much more casual. In Shakespeare’s play, Taming of the Shrew, marriage is a very important concept, but it is very different than it is now. It is the fathers job to give away his daughters to the most wiling suitor, or the man who makes the best deal. If a suitor is interested in pursuing and marrying someone, the suitor will approach the daughter’s father and meet with him. They write a contract, willing things to the suitor and the father’s daughter for when the father dies, such as large proportions of land, or his home. If the daughter has multiple suitors, the father will choose who presented him with the best contract, not necessarily who loves his daughter the most or who his daughter wants to be with. Petruchio and Katharina’s marriage is a good example, because her father gives Katharina to Petruchio because of the contract Petruchio presented to him. Baptista, Katharina’s father, is in desperate need of...
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...The Biggest Shrew of All Little did people know, William Shakespeare was a mastermind of his time. A man that has created countless works of literature that are still being read, but not given nearly enough credit they deserve. Shakespeare’s plays have gone down in history along side him. We recognize Shakespeare’s work and appreciate it for something not only educational but inspiring. One of Shakespeare’s plays that has been reenacted on multiple occasions, and is amazing to read in the comedy sense: The Taming of the Shrew. “The Shrew,” being the whole purpose of the play. A shrew is a simple yet strong term that in this play, describes three foolish people: Katherina, Bianca, and Petruchio. Katherina, daughter of Baptista Minola, is...
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...The play The Taming of the Shrew is essentially a comedy, and yet more serious questions about gender issues overshadow its comic features. Comment. In the Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare creates a troubling comedy that explores Elizabethan issues of gender. Although it is apparent that Shakespeare’s vast use of humour throughout the first 3 acts helps bring out several subtle concepts such as ‘things are not always as they seem’, multiple questions regarding gender come across more prominently and significantly as the main plot is derived from such gender issues such as what is the ideal behaviour of a woman through the theme of feminism; are females expected to subject to male dominance through the theme of patriarchy as well as which gender holds the most power in the ‘battle of the sexes’. To give a brief introduction on the comedy that Shakespeare has carefully woven through the use humour, it is important to take note as to how he employs various forms of humour such as verbal humour, slap-stick humour, witty banter as well as situational humour. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Cristopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king as he laments “Upon my life, I am a lord indeed, And not a tinker; nor Christopher Sly” (Induction.2.70-71) and orders a play to be performed for him. Interestingly, the play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming of the Shrew. By creating false realities here, Shakespeare is able to employ...
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...Taming of The Shrew is still very popular in today's world in many different theatres all over. This is a Shakespeare play that many people enjoy in the theatre. In a lot of ways people can connect with characters from Taming of the Shrew. They can put themselves in their shoes because of experiences that they have had in their lives. It is also very popular because it shows all of the typical stereotypes of men and women and the play is a comedy that is supposed to make you laugh. One reason that the play is so popular around the globe is because of the relations audiences can make with the characters. People in the audience can look back in their lives and see if the ever did some of the things that Bianca, Petruchio, or any other characters...
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...Equality can be defined as the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. There is much in literature, film, and in reality that tells us equality is not an easy opportunity to be given to someone or something. Katharina, the protagonist in the play The Taming of The Shrew, was not treated fairly and was controlled by her husband Petruchio. Even back in the days, when slavery was a thing, slaves were denied access to freedom, did not have much opportunities, and did not have their own rights. My personal experience is yet another example of not being treated fairly. I was picked on based upon my race and skin colour. Despite best efforts, equality can be difficult to achieve. In the Shakespearean play, ‘The Taming of The...
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