Sep 7, 2008

Shakespeare A to Z | Taming of the Shrew, The

The fact that Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew is disturbing to many modern audiences may be one reason for its continued appeal. The “shrew” of the play’s title is KATHARINA, a beautiful but foul-tempered woman who is “tamed” by PETRUCHIO, a man who has claimed that his only interest in her is in her money. This plot runs against modern notions of political correctness. Many viewers are uncomfortable seeing an assertive and strong-willed, if rather disagreeable, woman turned into a meek and dutiful wife by a crude, fortune-hunting husband. But right from...