Taming of the Shrew- AO4: Act 4 Flashcards
How are clowns and fools shown as comedic in this act?
Grumio and the other servants act as clowns to entertain the audience, but Petruchio’s anger is made out to be foolish and comedic, with comedic language used ‘whoreson villain’, or the fact that he begins to sing ‘where is the life that late I led’, that makes Petruchio come across as a comic villain and a clown.
How are masters and servants shown as comedic in this act?
We see how Petruchio talks to and treats his servants, it comes across as very comedic, especially when watching the 2012 Globe adaption but the way he talks and behaves towards the servants is particularly concerning ‘rouges, rascals, (he kicks the servant)’.
How is disguise and mistaken identity used as comedy in this act?
When Tranio convinces a Pedant to pretend to be Vincentio so that he gets Baptista’s confirmation to marry Bianca, it becomes very comedic when Vincentio arrives, as an audience we know that all the deceit and disguises are going to be revealed. ‘And come to Padua, careless of your life?’- Tranio: convincing the Pedant that he will be murdered (he won’t be) since he came from Mantua, and convinces him to be Vincentio in exchange for ‘safety’, this whole section of confusion is very comedic.
