The Taming of the Shrew - A Review

William Shakespeare

A play within a play. Sly, a tinker was passed out drunk and a Lord decided to pull a prank on him, going lengths to make him believe that he was a gentleman, or a lord himself, who went lunatic.

The play then shifts to Padua, where Baptista is trying to marry his daughters off, Bianca and Kate. Kate, the elder daughter and "the shrew" must be married before Bianca, thus Bianca's suitor went on a search for someone who's willing to take on Kate.

I loved the writing. The parallelism between the induction and the whole play is a good touch. It was entertaining, although a little confusing at times with names appearing every page and everyone playing various roles. However, there was nothing interesting with the majority of the character. They were basically professing their undying love (to Bianca), which I think are stupid, to be honest, as they are apparently all after beauty and ownership.

Now, one of my many faults as a reader is that I cannot separate myself from what I'm reading, so dare I say that this play is openly misogynistic and sexist? While I do understand that it is written at a time when these social standards were upheld and normalized, it doesn't change the fact that this was nothing but utter nonsense. God forbid a woman has opinions of her own and speaks her mind. And don't get me started with the concept of fathers arranging his daughters for marriage and all the talk about dowry and shit.

"No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced

To give my hand opposed against my heart

Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,

Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure."

Kate was starved, humiliated, and abused into submission. He denied her of food, sleep and proper clothing, and did it all "lovingly".

"The more my wrong, the more his spite appears.

What, did he marry me to famish me?

Beggars that come unto my father's door,

Upon entreaty have a present alms;

If not elsewhere they meet charity.

But I, who never knew how to entreat

Nor never needed that I should entreat,

Am starved for meat, giddy for lack of sleep,

With oaths kept waking and with brawling fed.

And that which spites me more than all these wants,

He does it under name of perfect love,"

She did attempt to stand her ground.

"Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak,

And speak I will. I am no child, no babe.

Your betters have endured me say my mind,

And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.

My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,

Or else my heart, concealing it, will break,

And rather than it shall I will be free

Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words."

In the end, the shrew was tamed and even gave the talk about how the other wives should submit themselves to their husbands.

"Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

thy head, thy sovereign-one that cares for thee,"

"Place your hands below your husband's foot."

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