The Taming of the Shrew - William Shakespeare

Like so many older literary works, context is everything. Not so very long ago, women were supposed to be quiet, biddable and subservient to father, husband etc. A woman who had her own mind and wanted her own way could often find herself labled as a 'shrew'. A woman with a sharp tongue doubly so.

Imagine a household with two sisters, the younger one - Bianca - is pretty, demure, well behaved and madly in love with a presentable young man. The older sister - Katherina -is a bit of a handful, she wants her own way, detestst her various suitors and her family find her a social embarrasment. Now these days a parent would harldy consider these traits a major problem and would probably concentrate on younger sister getting married, but no, not in this play. Younger sister is only going to be allowed to get married when older sister has been married off.

A bit harsh perhaps. Katherina is found a husband though, a man who is effectively paid to put up with her. He sets about 'breaking her in' by various methods. In some ways it is very funny, in others you can't help but feel it is a tad sexist and cruel. Katherina manages to maintian most of her spirit, but is eventuall forced to behave as her husband sees fit. I think the comedy still works for a modern audience, even if it is a touch uncomfortable.The underlying story does provoke some thought - there is some historical accuracy here regarding how women were suppsoed to behave. These days, woe betide any man who means to 'tame' a willfull woman. Katherina's husband is not a man of many virtues, and there is grounds for looking at the way in which she house trains him a bit along the way as well.

There are some interesting paralleles to be drawn between this play and "Much ado about nothing" - Katherine contrasts interestignly with Beatrice, another willful, sharp tongued woman who largely does get her own way and whose family respect ehr for what she is.

There's a good film version with Elizabeth Taylor and I can't remember the blokes name - well worth wathcing though. The play has also been updated as the musical @Kiss Me Kate' and as the film "Ten things I hate about you."

If you can read Shakespeare (and many people find it tricky to get into just from the page) then it is a good read. Better to see it live though.