The taming of the shrew Flashcards
‘Katherina is a clever woman who beats Petruchio at his own game.’ To what extent do you agree with this view?
-In Kate’s end speech she refers to a husband as the “Lord”, “life”, “keeper”, “Sovereign”, “head” of the wife.
-“Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp; i’ faith, you are too angry.
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.”
-Petruchio: Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly/hast thou beheld a fresher gentle woman?
A few lines later…
ate: (to Vincentio) Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet.
‘Audiences enjoy Petruchio’s amusing and playful taming of Katherina.’
No:
-Kate: My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.
-If she chance to nod I’ll rail and brawl, and with the clamor keep her still awake. This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.
-Board her though she chides as loud/ as Thunder.
-You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate.
(psychological rape.)
‘Bianca is a heroine who knows how to exercise power and cunning.’
- “gentlemen, you do me double wrong”
“I am no breeching scholar in the schools,”
“learn my lessons as I please myself”
-“ Fie! what a foolish duty call you this?”
“The more fool you for laying on my duty”
However…
-The taming-school! What, is there such a place?
Shakespeare characterizes Lucentio as a romantic, engaging and triumphant lover.’
Yes romantic and engaging, but no, he is not triumphant, in fact sometime characterized as foolish (criticsing romantic love)
-Hark, Tranio, thou mayst hear Minerva speak!
-I burn, I pine, I perish.
-Let me be a slave t’acheive that maid”
However… Foolish.
-Bianca: “ Fie! what a foolish duty call you this?”
“The more fool you for laying on my duty”
Old men in the play, such as Gremio and Baptista, are there to be laughed at: that is their only comedic function.’
-Whilst their foolishness and pantalooning is highly amusing… they are also comic villians, to get in the way of characters happiness.
-“pantaloon’ stage directions, used to describe Gremio.
-Baptista’s role as comedic obstacle to the happiness of his daughters, his role as patriarch which generates disapproval rather than laughter. About Bianca’s hand “Tis deeds must win the prize”.
-Grumio: I warrant him, Patruchio is Kated. (Not always butt of the joke, sometime makes the joke.)
-Gremio: Youngling, thou canst love so dear as I. (comic villan, gets in the way of Lucentio and Bianca’s happiness.)
‘The events involving cruelty and humiliation make the audience laugh rather than feel pity.’
No… they are offensive to both modern and Elizabethan audiences… The slapstick humor is overshadowed by the subject matter.
-“Old Jerkin”, “a pair of boots that have been candle cases” (Offensive to church - he wears this to wedding.)
-Petruchio “my” : “chattels”, “house”, “barn”, “horse” and “ox” (Parody of 10 commandments, not funny Elizabethan) (Possessive pronoun my - not amusing to a modern feminist audience.)
-Petruchio: “politically” begun his “reign” - not amusing - cruel, controlling of women - not compliant with modern day femenism.
-In Kate’s end speech she refers to a husband as the “Lord”, “life”, “keeper”, “Sovereign”, “head” of the wife.
‘The servants in the play are resourceful characters who make things happen.’
Yes, some servants, such as Tranio - resourceful and make things happens, yet others are more for entertainment value, such as Gremio and Biondello.
-Tranio: “Ay, marry, am I, sir - and now tis plotted!”.
-Grumio: “Knock you here, sir? Why, sir, what am I, sir, that should knock you here, sire?” (Very stupid, for entertainment value, not resourceful, purely for comedic entertainment.)
-Biondello: “Old Jerkin”, “a pair of boots that have been candle cases” (Lively comedic messenger, though his description is entertaining - he holds little power in the world of the text.)
Explore the significance of the play’s title to the comedy The Taming of the Shrew.
-The title - ironic comment - seeing as Kate’s behavior at the end is very much not tamed. - draws attention to the reversal of typical shrew narratives.
(Final Speech “soft”, “weak”, “smooth” and “unapt to toil and trouble” - sexuality as empowerment.) (“Place your hand below your husband’s foot” -sarcasm - wit - elequent”) (“our lances are but straws” - elequence, empowerment.)
-draws attention to darker side of play - inhumane treatment. (“If she chance to nod I’ll rail and brawl, and with the clamor keep her still awake. This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.”)
-Foreshadows comedic tension between genders.
“Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp; i’ faith, you are too angry. Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.”
‘Audiences have to like Petruchio; he is a witty and resourceful comedic hero.’
Witty, comical aspects overshadowed by his darker undertones.
-Petruchio: Stage directions: “He wrings him by the ear” This happens to Gremio. (Slapstick lazzi, overshadowed by abuse - not accepted by modern audience.)
-Biondello’s description of patruchios outfit: “Old Jerkin” “Boots” + “have been candle cases” “full of winndgalls” “Sped with Spavins” “rayed with yellows” “a womans crupper of velour” (Funny, butt of the joke, yet he is humiliating religion and Katherine.)
-You lie, in faith, for you are called plain Kate (Thinks he’s being funny, irritating not amusing and dehumanising for Kate.)
‘The Taming of the Shrew ends in a trio of happy marriages.’
No… None all marriages are deeply flawed.
-“ Fie! what a foolish duty call you this?”
“The more fool you for laying on my duty” (Not the perfect woman he expected.
-Katherine and Petruchio:
-“It is the blessed sun. / But sun it is not, when you say it is not. /And the moon changes even as your mind.”
-Why, there’s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate. (Thinks there happy - just his commands - her contempt for him better disguised.)
‘If the audience find the ending of The Taming of the Shrew funny then they are the intellectual equivalent of the drunken tinker, Christopher Sly.’
Depends how you interpret ending…
-Sad: Kate beaten, who she was lost.
-In Kate’s end speech she refers to a husband as the “Lord”, “life”, “keeper”, “Sovereign”, “head” of the wife.
-Bianca coming into herself - turning gender roles: “ Fie! what a foolish duty call you this?”
“The more fool you for laying on my duty” (Not the perfect woman he expected.)
-Interpret Kate as eliquent, found herself.
Kate: (to Vincentio) Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet.
Final Speech, refers to women’s bodies as “soft”, “weak”, “smooth” and “unapt to toil and trouble” (sexual power.)
‘The tongue-lashings that Katherina gives Petruchio have no other purpose than to make audiences laugh.’
Kates Tongue lashings are amusing in the sense that he is supposedly dominant, yet some are heart breaking and tender to.
-“Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp; i’ faith, you are too angry.
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.”
-Kate: My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break. (sad).
-Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
