Key Themes Flashcards
Gender and Misogyny
Gender is probably the most important theme, is it is what the play centres around with the taming of Kat
Social Hierarchy
Women are one of the socially oppressed groups in the play with Servants being beaten, abused and insulted by the higher noblemen. Social classes are seen at the start with Sly. Social hierarchy is played around with, upper class as lower and vice versa.
Education
Tends to poke fun at formal education, with Lucentio being the prime example and them pretending to be tutors for love. Tranio represents a second type of education, social savviness, Petruchio has his taming education teaching her to be a submissive wife.
Marriage
Plot hinges on marriage of Baptista’s two daughters. Significant tension between understandings of marriage. One is a union for love, Bianca and Lucentio. The other is the idea of it being an economical exchange. Selling his daughters
