The Taming of the Shrew The Taming Of

The Taming of the Shrew: The Taming? Of the Shrew?

Do you think Kate wants to get married? A) Yes B) No C) Dude, I, like, just don’t know.

Why would Kate act like a shrew, which is both socially denigrating and off-putting to suitors, if she really wants to get married? A) The role of shrew challenges societal masculinity (she’s looking for a real man) B) The role of shrew challenges traditional femininity (chaste, silent, and obedient) C) The role of shrew is a defensive measure (vs. her father’s favoritism for Bianca and the treatment of women as objects or goods) D) All of the above E) None of the above

The problem of getting locked in a role: • See Sarah Badel’s Kate in the BBC film production of Taming • the binding scene, 2. 1. 1 -36 (pp. 36 -37) DVD: 21. 58 - 26. 06

What is Petruchio’s most effective “taming” method? A) Classic brainwashing/intervention strategy - removes her from her home, and deprives her of food & sleep B) Treats her “illness” with contraries (Galenic medical theory) -if she ”rail” “She sings as sweetly as a nightingale” (p. 42) - bars burned meat because he and Kate are choleric (p. 72) C) Treats her “illness” with likes (Paracelsian medical theory) - he acts shrewishly, as in beating his servants Kate defends them (pp. 69, 71); “He kills her in her own humor” (p. 72) D) Advocates anti-materialism - comes in motley to their wedding - destroys Kate’s fashionable dress, making them return home in their “honest mean habiliments” (p. 85) E) All of the above

By the end of Taming, Kate is A) Tamed into being the ideal woman/wife B) More socialized, if not fully socialized C) Savvy in the tricks of playing socially acceptable games to get what she wants D) Unchanged

Kate’s final speech Two different film versions of the concluding scene: • The one played by Sarah Badel (BBC) • • DVD 1. 56. 00 – 2. 06. 25 The one played by Elizabeth Taylor (Zeffirelli) • DVD 1. 55. 33 – 2. 00. 43 Which version do you like best? A) Badel B) Taylor

In Kate’s final speech is she A) B) C) D) E) Deadly serious Mostly serious Ironic throughout Just playing the role of good wife Mocking

In conclusion, I resubmit my sketch of the Katherine/Petruchio plot as follows:

Art, like life, is full of questions, and many roles.