The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew(1591)(1591)

By William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare

Introduction to Introduction to The Taming of The Taming of the Shrewthe Shrew

Shrew = a sharp-tempered scolding Shrew = a sharp-tempered scolding womanwoman

Impossible to date the play exactly but Impossible to date the play exactly but evidence marks it as one of evidence marks it as one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies (most Shakespeare’s earliest comedies (most likely written in the late 1580’s or early likely written in the late 1580’s or early 1590’s).1590’s).

Written 8-10 years before Written 8-10 years before Much Ado Much Ado about Nothing about Nothing (often compared with (often compared with ShrewShrew))

Each play highlights a bold and saucy Each play highlights a bold and saucy pair of protagonists who enter into the pair of protagonists who enter into the battle of wits.battle of wits.

Since much of the cleverness and Since much of the cleverness and verbal acumen found in verbal acumen found in Much Ado Much Ado is is already apparent in already apparent in Shrew, Shrew, it is it is believed that even early in his career believed that even early in his career Shakespeare was extraordinarily Shakespeare was extraordinarily skilled character development, able to skilled character development, able to pit a headstrong hero and heroine pit a headstrong hero and heroine against each other with fantastic against each other with fantastic results.results.

Sources for Sources for The Taming of ShrewThe Taming of Shrew

The primary plot, the story of Katherine The primary plot, the story of Katherine and Petruchio, finds its roots in folk and Petruchio, finds its roots in folk tales and songs common in tales and songs common in Shakespeare’s day.Shakespeare’s day.

In fact, while growing up, Shakespeare In fact, while growing up, Shakespeare was surrounded by a very public debate was surrounded by a very public debate over the nature of women, including over the nature of women, including specific arguments on a woman’s duty specific arguments on a woman’s duty and role in marriage and family.and role in marriage and family.

The idea of Love, Sex and The idea of Love, Sex and Marriage during the 17Marriage during the 17thth Century Century The term ‘family’ commonly used in the The term ‘family’ commonly used in the

Renaissance to denote a household Renaissance to denote a household (including servants) and in this age the (including servants) and in this age the law regarded women ‘as either married or law regarded women ‘as either married or to be married’ to be in oneto be married’ to be in one

It is quite common for girls to married at It is quite common for girls to married at the age of 12 and boys at 14 in the 16the age of 12 and boys at 14 in the 16thth century (a practice less tolerated during century (a practice less tolerated during Shakespeare’s time)Shakespeare’s time)

Hence courtship and matrimony involved Hence courtship and matrimony involved emotional and personal significance as emotional and personal significance as well as prime public importancewell as prime public importance

Nonetheless entry into a married state Nonetheless entry into a married state was not as rigidly controlled as one was not as rigidly controlled as one assumedassumed

Girls and boys are allowed to be Girls and boys are allowed to be married once they reach their teen and married once they reach their teen and parental consent is not requiredparental consent is not required

Regardless of where Shakespeare drew Regardless of where Shakespeare drew the basis for the text, the fact remains the basis for the text, the fact remains that he masterfully presents us with a that he masterfully presents us with a well-founded, carefully developed well-founded, carefully developed drama.drama.

Marriage in the Renaissance Marriage in the Renaissance EnglandEngland

Marriage statistics indicate that the Marriage statistics indicate that the mean marriage age for the Elizabethan mean marriage age for the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras was higher than and Jacobean eras was higher than many people realize. Data taken from many people realize. Data taken from birthdates of women and marriage birthdates of women and marriage certificates reveals mean marriage ages certificates reveals mean marriage ages to have been as follows: to have been as follows: 1566-1619 - 27.0 years 1566-1619 - 27.0 years 1647-1719 - 29.6 years 1647-1719 - 29.6 years 1719-1779 - 26.8 years 1719-1779 - 26.8 years 1770-1837 - 25.1 years 1770-1837 - 25.1 years

The marriage age of men was probably the The marriage age of men was probably the same or a bit older than that of women. (In same or a bit older than that of women. (In 1619, it was about 23 for women, 26 for men.) 1619, it was about 23 for women, 26 for men.) The age of consent was 12 for a girl, 14 for a The age of consent was 12 for a girl, 14 for a boy, but for most children puberty came two boy, but for most children puberty came two or three years later than it does today. or three years later than it does today.

Oddly enough, there seems to be a period in Oddly enough, there seems to be a period in the late sixteenth century when the mean the late sixteenth century when the mean marriage age of women in and around the marriage age of women in and around the area of Stratford-on- Avon dropped as low as area of Stratford-on- Avon dropped as low as 21 years: the mean marriage age from 1580 21 years: the mean marriage age from 1580 to 1589 was about 20.6 years, and it was in to 1589 was about 20.6 years, and it was in this decade that Shakespeare, at the age of this decade that Shakespeare, at the age of eighteen, married Anne Hathaway. eighteen, married Anne Hathaway.

The reason for late marriage among labourers and the middle The reason for late marriage among labourers and the middle class was simple enough: it took a long time for a couple to class was simple enough: it took a long time for a couple to acquire enough belongings to set up housekeeping, even in a acquire enough belongings to set up housekeeping, even in a room of their parents' home. room of their parents' home.

Young love, however romantic, had to be kept in check if the two Young love, however romantic, had to be kept in check if the two lovers were to survive in a world where subsistence earnings lovers were to survive in a world where subsistence earnings would not purchase a roof over their heads and put food on the would not purchase a roof over their heads and put food on the table. table.

Children of noble birth ran a great risk if they tried to marry Children of noble birth ran a great risk if they tried to marry without the approval of their parents, since they would be left without the approval of their parents, since they would be left without resources. Perhaps the caution of young Claudio in without resources. Perhaps the caution of young Claudio in Much Much Ado About NothingAdo About Nothing has something to do with the fear of acting has something to do with the fear of acting without permission: he is careful to make sure that his loved one, without permission: he is careful to make sure that his loved one, Hero, is the sole heir to her father's estate (see 1.1.242-243). Hero, is the sole heir to her father's estate (see 1.1.242-243).

Induction in the playInduction in the play The induction (part of the play which lies outside, The induction (part of the play which lies outside,

but leads into, the main action) of the play also but leads into, the main action) of the play also has its roots in popular debate.has its roots in popular debate.

Although inductions were common in 16th and Although inductions were common in 16th and 17th dramas, 17th dramas, Shrew Shrew is the only play in which is the only play in which Shakespeare features this framing device.Shakespeare features this framing device.

For the For the Shrew’s Shrew’s induction, Shakespeare features induction, Shakespeare features the tale of a beggar who finds himself mysteriously the tale of a beggar who finds himself mysteriously in power in a rich man’s world. in power in a rich man’s world.

Regardless of where Shakespeare drew the basis Regardless of where Shakespeare drew the basis for the text, the fact remains that he masterfully for the text, the fact remains that he masterfully presents us with a well-founded, carefully presents us with a well-founded, carefully developed drama.developed drama.

Performance history Performance history (Renaissance)(Renaissance)

The play has experienced great The play has experienced great popularity through the years because popularity through the years because of themes addressed (marriage, of themes addressed (marriage, duty, identity, family).duty, identity, family).

It is also the most potentially It is also the most potentially offensive since it addresses issue on offensive since it addresses issue on submissive woman.submissive woman.

Its popularity made it difficult to Its popularity made it difficult to trace its exact performance history.trace its exact performance history.

John Fletcher created a sequel to John Fletcher created a sequel to Shakespeare’s work with his 1611 play Shakespeare’s work with his 1611 play The Woman’s Prize, or The Tamer The Woman’s Prize, or The Tamer Tamed. Tamed.

Aside from contemporary spin-offs, in Aside from contemporary spin-offs, in 1663 the Restoration stage became 1663 the Restoration stage became home to a popular production of home to a popular production of Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Shrew. Shrew.

After 1663, though, After 1663, though, Shrew Shrew slipped off slipped off the boards, and no record of a the boards, and no record of a production in its original form again production in its original form again until 1844.until 1844.

Reviews of the playReviews of the play““TTOTS TTOTS is a remarkable example of is a remarkable example of Shakespeare’s repeated attempts to make Shakespeare’s repeated attempts to make the public accept realistic comedy.”the public accept realistic comedy.” George Bernard Shaw, 1897George Bernard Shaw, 1897

““There is no doubt at the end of There is no doubt at the end of TTOTS TTOTS that that he or she who gives most, not in terms of he or she who gives most, not in terms of the contract of love, must inevitably get the contract of love, must inevitably get most .”most .” John Russell Brown, 1957John Russell Brown, 1957

The Taming of the Shrew (1967) - Elizabeth Taylor

The Taming of the Shrew (1967) - Elizabeth Taylor

The Taming of the Shrew (1967) - Elizabeth Taylor

The Taming of the Shrew (1967) - Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton