Customer Reviews

Taming of the Shrew

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"The Taming of the Shrew" is probably William Shakespeare's second most controversial play -- nobody can figure out if it's misogynistic or a biting double satire on the sexes. Whatever it is, it's still a witty and hilarious comedy that pits the titular "shrew" against a crazy guy determined to browbeat her into traditional subservience... and while they're no Beatrice and Benedick, it is lots of fun.

Framing device: a local lord and his hunting party stumble across a drunken tinker, and decide to play an elaborate prank on him. They dress him in rich clothes, arrange fine food for him, and even drag a protesting servant boy in to pretend to be his wife. And they put on a performance for him as well: Baptista Minola has two daughters, the hot-tempered razor-tongued Katharina and the quiet, demure Bianca.

Since Bianca is not allowed to marry until Katharina is, her suitors form an alliance to get the elder sister out of the way, which is made more complex when a young student named Luciento falls in love with Bianca, and comes up with a clever plan to woo her. Enter Petruchio, an impoverished nobleman with as sharp a wit as Katharina -- and since he's the only one willing to marry her, her father jumps on the chance. From the very beginning, Petruchio beats her over the head with crazy reverse psychology, a ridiculous wedding ceremony, and a honeymoon from hell.

It's often debated whether "The Taming of the Shrew" is a sexist play or not, since the strong-willed, independent Katharina ends up another little obedient wifie, lecturing the other wives on giving their husbands "love, fair looks and true obedience." Blech.

But consider: this speech comes from a woman who, after years of intimidating the men around her, has been browbeaten, emotionally abused and humiliated until her boorish hubby finally "breaks" her... not exactly a rousing celebration of "the taming of the shrew," or of Petruchio! If anything, Shakespeare seems to be hinting that women should be subtle about their rebellion (as Bianca is) rather than broadcasting it to the world... and perhaps that is what the "shrew" had really learned.

And as usual, Shakespeare wraps the play in delicious wordplay ("You lie, in faith; for you are call'd plain Kate,/And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst"), weird situations (the ridiculous wedding), and an farcical romantic tangle centering on Bianca. And Shakespeare has some fun with the framing device about Christopher Sly -- while the lord is being a jerk, the whole situation is just so hilarious that it's impossible not to enjoy it.

And the characters are pretty fun as well, even when you want to kick them in the backside -- Katharina is delightfully witty, bombastic and very intimidating, and Petruchio is a hilarious, witty jerk who knows just how to counter her. Bianca seems like a subservient doormat at first, but Shakespeare hints that (in her own way) she's just as rebellious as Katharina, unbeknownst to her clownish admirers and her worn-out dad.

"The Taming of the Shrew" seems like a pretty offensive piece until you see all the little barbs sticking out of the surface. Really uncomfortable, and truly brilliant.

Very funny story. Gotta hand it to Shakespear here, it is a nice comedy. Just slightly not my style.

The notations on the words/phrases were invaluable for a shakespearian layman like myself. The names all slurred together after a while so I found myself reading out-loud and still getting a bit lost. Everyone impersonating everyone else...who are impersonating someone else...confusing.

The book, although good, gets 3 stars because I had to rent the movie of the play to get it. Once I figured it out, however, the book made sense and was funny. This one may be a book to pass up, and watch the movie instead. Too many characters with names that all sound the same to make it an easy read.

The synopsis made simple for the Taming of the Shrew is: Katharina is a 'shrew,' with a flaring temper, a streak of sarcasm, and is less elegant as her sister Bianca. She is then betrothed to Petruchio, who uses the 'cruel to be kind' method to try to change Katharina's personality by being cruel and uncompromising towards her. In the end it ultimately works, and Katharina becomes more subtle, respectful, and ultimately falls in love w/ Petruchio.

It is a great play by Shakespeare, very humorous (with a genius use of sarcasm wit and puns), and it is one of his more rewarding plays on many levels. Not only is it a pleasure to read, but the theme of the story, by transforming a shrew into a better person, is very positive, a relief from the darker subjects Shakespeare used in his more famous plays (i.e. Romeo & Juliet).

Bianca is a beautiful, educated woman, modest and loved by nearly all who lay eyes upon her. But she cannot be wed until her older sister, the shrew, witty, and temperamental Katharina, is married. This is our situation.

I enjoyed this play, as I do all of Shakespeare's comedies. But I found the latter half of the play to be far less humorous. I preferred Katharina outspoken ... she is full of insults and violence, as she beats her music teacher of the head with the lute. But after she marries Petruchio, she is "tamed," and subordinate. This in itself is important, (though not too funny), because Shakespeare is commenting on the subservient and domesticated role of women, and he obviously doesn't agree with it. I'd say that was a step forward towards equal rights if I ever heard one.

The number of sex jokes it phenomenal ... ha ha, Shakespeare is just as human as the rest of us.

The Taming of the Shrew is a play within a play. It starts out with a drunkard, Sly, and a lord. The lord bets that he can trick Sly into thinking he is a lord. When Sly wakes up he doesn't understand, but eventually accepts who they say he is. After a few minutes he becomes bored and the play, "Taming of the Shrew" comes on. It is a play that has men dressing as women, other men, and women dressing as men. I would recommend it to someone who is looking for a book that will have a geat beginning, middle, end, and will keep you wanting to read the next page.

this farce is flat-out shakespeare's funniest play. the courtship of petruchio and katherina, his shrew, is laugh-out-loud funny. this is more than you can say about many of his other 'comedies'. the other courtship story is more conventional, but still very humorous because of the foolish characters shakespeare has created. see the zeffarelli film with liz taylor and dick burton. also see the stratford festival production of this play with len carieu. it is HILARIOUS, even better than the zeffarelli film.

First of all Katharine and Bianca are two spoiled, self-centered, wenches. Katharine enjoys defaming others character,hearing her own voice, and inducing pain in her little sister while Bianca is a pathetic, whinny, future trophy wife, who has never had an original thought in her life. Katharine and Bianca embody two female extremes, extremes that no self respecting woman should ever be. The guys on the other hand... Are no better. Lucentio is your typical male. He wants a demure, innocent but dumb blonde bombshell while Petruchio in today's time would be considered a hick. His moto concerning women would be "They should be barefoot and pregnant."
So if you enjoy stories that are insulting to woman, difficult to understand, and glorify hicks then this is the book for you, if not, don't bother.

The Taming of the Shrew is a great read for high school literature classes. Shakespeare uses love in this play to set up many comical situations. It is a nice change of pace from the traditional Shakespearian love tragedy which we have all been subjected to. This book is easily related to by teens. I personally related to the two suitors for Bianca. They both wanted her more than anything and were forced to wait because of a shrewd sister and an overbearing father. This was one book that I had no problem sitting down, reading, and enjoying on my own time. This book is a necesity for all high school literature classes.

The Taming of the Shrew is a comedic play by our favorite playwright Shakespeare. It is a unique love story with hidden comedy throughout. Though a tad difficult to keep the many characters and their doubles straight, it is an enjoyable read.

The plot revolves around an overprotective father who is unwilling to let his attractive younger daughter, Bianca, wed, until his shrewish older daughter, Katherine, is married first. A brave young man, Petruchio decides to test his intellectual and mental capabilites, by marrying Katherine. His goal is to turn her into a good,submissive wife, hence the title, The Taming of the Shrew. After Katherine is wed the courtship of beautiful Bianca begins.

Throughout Katherine's courting, only teachers would be admitted near Bianca. The plot deepens as two men in competition for Bianca's hand pose as teachers. One proves to be victorious, the other a milksop, settling for a wealthy widow as his newylwed.

Petruchio and his recalcitrant wife appear continously through the duration of the play, providing the majority of the comedic entertainment. All in all, a great choice.

Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew is dramatic, witty, and hilarious all at the same time. The plot itself borders on ridiculous, as it is unlikely anything like it would happen in real life. However, the play is made plausible by realistic characters. Perhaps Shakespeare's characters are so believable because they all seem like people we could know today. The shrewish Kate and the seamless Bianca may as well be sisters in the house down your street. The doting Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio are reminiscent of high school teens trying to win the head cheerleader. In the end, this play not only takes us back to a time not so different from our own, but teaches us some lessons as well.
This comedy has a lot to offer readers. It reasons that like Petruchio with Katherina, sometimes it takes a little cruelty to show kindness. After days of starvation and punishment all under the guise of love, Kate learns to respect her husband. At the same time, she learns to love him.
Overall, this classic play is definitely worth reading. Those who take the time won't regret it.