The Taming of the Shrew Group

Question:

coconutorange
coconutorange
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What was Shakespeare's main purpose in writing The Taming of the Shrew?

Rate question:

Posted by coconutorange on Wednesday February 11, 2009 at 1:49 PM and tagged with play, purpose, the taming of the shrew.

Answers:

  1. mark1966
    mark1966 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    Shakespeare was a working playwright who needed to write in order to pay his bills (he was not some rich lord writing for his amusement or to send work to his friends) so his primary aim was to entertain. Taming of the Shrew is an early play and explores the division of the sexes. It many ways it makes uncomfortable watching today as the treatment of Kate at the end of the play sees her as 'broken.' Remember a play is a product of its times and we need to see it with the eyes of the people who first watched it, and how they would see it exploring issues of female independence and the role of marriage. That it has remained in common theatre repertory today is an indication that it continues to provoke debate and thought.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mark1966 on Thursday February 12, 2009 at 5:27 AM