What are your thoughts on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew?

[Beaumont Todd]

I have had the opportunity to both read the book as well as act in a play about the same. I found the book to be sexiest in the least about the way the characters portrayed men and women. However it is actually a delightful book in regards to how it can relate to the battle of the sexes in this present age. How some mothers want their daughters to only get a good husband and get married without sometimes taking their daughters feelings into consideration. Yet the outward obedient daughter was the one that most fickle and deceitful. I did enjoy the Petruchio's character and how used his mind, a little reverse psychology and some cruelty to tame is new young wife. The other characters played their roles well be never quite touched me as much as his character with whom I can relate.

[scottishbooklover]

It's been some time since I read the Shrew. It was implied by the uni lecturers that it was misogynistic, however I found it lol funny while being totally relevant today.

[kanwal]

While I don't have an opinion on this, I do know that since I lost substantial vision in my left eye, I find it easier to read online and with an e-reader than I do reading text from a physical book. Although, that does not stop me from reading in any and all mediums.







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Atif

[RStone]

I know that the sexism more or less comes down to the direction/acting. If the final speech is delivered with a wink, it goes one way, if not, it can go the other. Maybe I just want to think that a 'Shrew' (myself more or less being one, by the standards in the play) can win in the end.

[kstockard]

I, personally, do not like the Taming of the Shrew. I think Shakespeare has better pieces, but I understand the importance The Shrew has to gender roles and understanding them. If given the opportunity, I would much rather read Othello. That's just me.

[DATo]

I think the whole "misogynistic" thing where this play is concerned is overdone. First of all we have to keep in perspective that this play was written at the tail end of the 14th century and I'm sure the misogyny issue as well as all of the "politically correct" attitudes we have today would have been considered laughable by people living in that era. If we view the play with that in mind as well as within the context of the plot and not be so damn sensitive I think Shakespeare can be excused. Secondly, where does it say that a shrewish woman of the 14th century (or the 21st century for that matter) cannot be converted to a change of attitude as a plot conceit without it being a misogynistic story? I can easily conceive of a story written in our own times in which a pain-in-the-butt woman is "tamed" through various contrivances of the author. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if the "shrew" was the male component of the story? We already have a very well known novel where something much like this happens - Darcy, in Pride And Prejudice ... OK, granted, not a perfect example but it will do. We don't hear any women complaining about the fact that Elizabeth "tames" Darcy.

I think we have to stop reading politically correctness into everything we experience. Actually, it just occurred to me that a pretty good story could be written about The Taming Of The Politically Correct *LOL*.

[Fran]

I think the whole "misogynistic" thing where this play is concerned is overdone. First of all we have to keep in perspective that this play was written at the tail end of the 14th century and I'm sure the misogyny issue as well as all of the "politically correct" attitudes we have today would have been considered laughable by people living in that era. If we view the play with that in mind as well as within the context of the plot and not be so damn sensitive I think Shakespeare can be excused. Secondly, where does it say that a shrewish woman of the 14th century (or the 21st century for that matter) cannot be converted to a change of attitude as a plot conceit without it being a misogynistic story? I can easily conceive of a story written in our own times in which a pain-in-the-butt woman is "tamed" through various contrivances of the author. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if the "shrew" was the male component of the story? We already have a very well known novel where something much like this happens - Darcy, in Pride And Prejudice ... OK, granted, not a perfect example but it will do. We don't hear any women complaining about the fact that Elizabeth "tames" Darcy.

I think we have to stop reading politically correctness into everything we experience. Actually, it just occurred to me that a pretty good story could be written about The Taming Of The Politically Correct *LOL*.

@DATo
"tames" Mr Darcy - OMG I will never forgive you for just ruining my all time favourite book hero.
All Elizabeth does is reveal the totality of his character or perhaps she provides him with the security & the confidence to
be his true self. Hands off Mr Darcy (and Elizabeth) - you have been warned

[gali]

I think the whole "misogynistic" thing where this play is concerned is overdone. First of all we have to keep in perspective that this play was written at the tail end of the 14th century and I'm sure the misogyny issue as well as all of the "politically correct" attitudes we have today would have been considered laughable by people living in that era. If we view the play with that in mind as well as within the context of the plot and not be so damn sensitive I think Shakespeare can be excused. Secondly, where does it say that a shrewish woman of the 14th century (or the 21st century for that matter) cannot be converted to a change of attitude as a plot conceit without it being a misogynistic story? I can easily conceive of a story written in our own times in which a pain-in-the-butt woman is "tamed" through various contrivances of the author. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if the "shrew" was the male component of the story? We already have a very well known novel where something much like this happens - Darcy, in Pride And Prejudice ... OK, granted, not a perfect example but it will do. We don't hear any women complaining about the fact that Elizabeth "tames" Darcy.

I think we have to stop reading politically correctness into everything we experience. Actually, it just occurred to me that a pretty good story could be written about The Taming Of The Politically Correct *LOL*.

@DATo
"tames" Mr Darcy - OMG I will never forgive you for just ruining my all time favourite book hero.
All Elizabeth does is reveal the totality of his character or perhaps she provides him with the security & the confidence to
be his true self. Hands off Mr Darcy (and Elizabeth) - you have been warned

Ditto!

[DATo]

I HAVE SINNED ! *Throws himself to the floor and thrashes about violently in a state of penance.*

[Fran]

I HAVE SINNED ! *Throws himself to the floor and thrashes about violently in a state of penance.*

I'm tempted to insist you read 50 Shades as your punishment but maybe I'll let you off with The Wicked Wives

[kavery selvi p]

still i am a student ,so i just had an opportunity to read shakespeare creations as a part of my english literture syllabus.because of the ideal brave hearted petruchio,entire story picturizes even a shrew women can be changed to a lovable wife by some psycologycal tricks.ofcourse i am interested in psycology but never i hear those magical tricks which were done by our hero.i often have a dicussion with my freinds that how a tamed woman can withstand and bear all her intelligent actor without quarrelling with him.ultimately,it'll be a creative and laughing masterpiece of a william.

[MagElyx]

I believe Taming of the Shrew was indeed misogynistic, however I find it a bit puzzling to see the "shrew", Katherina, or Kate, having been portrayed so over-the-top. I think given the context of the time, it was very rare to have seen a woman with such a bad temper. Given the fact that she was Baptista's daughter, so she was allowed to behave this way - wouldn't Baptista have tamed her himself as a father? Hahaha, that's just my honest opinion.
Undoubtedly, the play was very different from Shakespeare's other works and is considered one of his most notable works. However, I feel that it is more relevant today than it was in the past. Not that men should always domesticate women, but women are more likely to behave this way than they used to in the past. Whatever the case, I really do enjoy it, most contrary to all the other comments here in this post. (But it's probably because I contextualise the story to our modern day now where women are climbing up the social ladders.. Haha!)

P.S. If anything, I feel like Shakespeare captured the the males POV very well but the females were rather... meh.

[Julie Ditton]

First, I must agree with DAT, that you must keep in mind the era in which this play was written. Anything that old is going to seem politically incorrect in this day and age. That being said, as RStein pointed out, the direction and acting can make a huge difference in how the play comes across. In modern productions, we will often see the actors break the 4th wall, slightly breaking character and deliver final speech with a drink to the audiance.

[Christina O Phillips]

I think the whole "misogynistic" thing where this play is concerned is overdone. First of all we have to keep in perspective that this play was written at the tail end of the 14th century and I'm sure the misogyny issue as well as all of the "politically correct" attitudes we have today would have been considered laughable by people living in that era. If we view the play with that in mind as well as within the context of the plot and not be so damn sensitive I think Shakespeare can be excused. Secondly, where does it say that a shrewish woman of the 14th century (or the 21st century for that matter) cannot be converted to a change of attitude as a plot conceit without it being a misogynistic story? I can easily conceive of a story written in our own times in which a pain-in-the-butt woman is "tamed" through various contrivances of the author. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if the "shrew" was the male component of the story? We already have a very well known novel where something much like this happens - Darcy, in Pride And Prejudice ... OK, granted, not a perfect example but it will do. We don't hear any women complaining about the fact that Elizabeth "tames" Darcy.

I think we have to stop reading politically correctness into everything we experience. Actually, it just occurred to me that a pretty good story could be written about The Taming Of The Politically Correct *LOL*.

I agree with this. It can be hard to forget that things written in another time period cover things and view them differently than we do now. It was not thought of as being misogynistic back then.
That being said, I enjoy the play.
I also love the modern adaptation: Ten Things I Hate About You.

[CinWin]

I loved The Taming of the Shrew. Although it was more prevalent back in the day for women to be "tamed", it is still widespread today. I recently saw a podcast where they said that women are in fact taming themselves because we are so used to society telling us what we are supposed to be. Interesting, but scary! Things do change...or do they?