The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself. She behaves unpleasantly to him but he pretends not to notice. In the end he marries her and ' tames' her by treating her roughly until she becomes as easy to control as wives were expected to be at that time.
Read More
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself. She behaves unpleasantly to him but he pretends not to notice. In the end he marries her and ' tames' her by treating her roughly until she becomes as easy to control as wives were expected to be at that time.
Read Less
I don't think that, these days, we should be exposed to play in which women are portrayed as irrational lunatics. It is offensive to those of us who know that they are nothing of the sort. Shakespeare, clearly, did not understand women. Of course, it is always possible that he based this play on his own experience, for which there is no accounting.
mallorysusan
May 22, 2007
Shakespeare's comedies get me every time. This was the first of them that I read, and I have to say it is one of my favorites. The subtle humor found within the pages makes it such a lively read. I have to say that I bought the one with the original version on one page and the modern English translation on the opposite page and it was easier to understand the complexities of the writing that way. This play is one of those things I read in high school English classes that I actually enjoyed.
