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Taming of The Shrew Introduction

This document provides an introduction to William Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. It discusses that the play is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, likely written in the 1580s-1590s. It features the battle of wits between the headstrong protagonists Katherina and Petruchio. The document also outlines some of the primary sources and themes of the play, including the nature of women, a woman's duty, and roles in marriage during the 16th century in Renaissance England. It provides brief descriptions of the main characters including Katherina, Petruchio, Bianca, Baptista, and others.

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allisonking
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201 views

Taming of The Shrew Introduction

This document provides an introduction to William Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. It discusses that the play is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, likely written in the 1580s-1590s. It features the battle of wits between the headstrong protagonists Katherina and Petruchio. The document also outlines some of the primary sources and themes of the play, including the nature of women, a woman's duty, and roles in marriage during the 16th century in Renaissance England. It provides brief descriptions of the main characters including Katherina, Petruchio, Bianca, Baptista, and others.

Uploaded by

allisonking
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Taming of the Shrew

By William Shakespeare

Introduction to The Taming of the


Shrew
Shrew = a sharp-tempered scolding
woman
Impossible to date the play exactly but
evidence marks it as one of
Shakespeares earliest comedies (most
likely written in the late 1580s or early
1590s).

Protagonists who enter into the battle


of wits
Character development!

headstrong hero and heroine against


each other with fantastic results

Sources for The Taming of Shrew


The primary plot: Katherine and
Petruchio,
The nature of women

womans duty
Roles in marriage and family

Marriage during the 17th Century


Emotional and personal as well as public
NOT as rigidly controlled as often
Allowed to be married in teens and parental
consent not required

Marriage in the Renaissance England


Not

as early as we often think!

1566-1619

- 27.0 years
1647-1719 - 29.6 years
1719-1779 - 26.8 years
1770-1837 - 25.1 years

Young love: pros and cons


A greater risk for children of noble birth

Induction in the play


Induction:

a wider framework
The only play in which
Shakespeare features this framing
device
Features the tale of a beggar who
finds himself mysteriously in power
in a rich mans world

Performance history
(Renaissance)
Has experienced great popularity
through the years because of themes
addressed (marriage, duty, identity,
family)
The most potentially offensive:
addresses issue of submissive woman

Characters

Katherine/Kate
The

shrew
Daughter of Baptista Minola
Sharp-tongued and prone to violence
Insecure/jealous of sister Bianca

Petruchio
Loud,

quick-witted, party boy


Has come to Padua to wive and thrive
After a rich woman

Characters

Bianca
Baptistas

younger daughter
Opposite of Kate: soft-spoken and sweet
Cant marry until Kate does

Baptista
Very

wealthy
Good-natured, but shallow
Desperate to find Kate a suitor

Characters

Lucentio
Young

student from Pisa


Falls in love with Bianca at first sight
Disguised as tutor, Cambio

Tranio
Lucentios

servant
Takes over Lucentios identity when
Lucentio is in disguise

Characters

Gremio and Hortensio


Biancas

suitors at beginning
Friendly rivalry

Grumio
Petruchios

Biondello
Lucentios

servant; comic relief

second servant

Christopher Sly
Character

in introduction
Drunk fooled into thinking hes a Lord

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