The Taming Of The Shrew William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Essays

The Taming of the Shrew William Shakespeare (1564-1616) The Taming of the Shrew William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Type of Work: Dramatic, farcical comedy Setting Warwickshire, England and Padua, Italy; sixteenth century Principal Characters Christopher Sly-an indolent, fat tinker Baptisa Minola-a rich Italian gentlemen Bianca-his refined, youngest daughter Katherine-his sharp-tongued, eldest daughter Gremio-Bianca's rich and elderly suitor Hortensio-Bianca's other suitor Petruchio-Hortensio's friend Lucentio-a rich and colorful gentlemen Tranio-Lucentio's servant Story Overveiw The hostess of the inn bellowed at the drunken tinker, berating him for the glasses he had burst and threatening to call the constable. "Let him come", mumbled Christopher Sly as he slid under a stool and began to snore. The hostess shook her fist and ran out. At that moment, in strode a gallently plumed lord with his servants. The lord was a mischievous sort, and he, deciding that it would be an excellant joke to change this swinish drunkard slumpled at his feet into a lord, ordered his servants to drag the man to his mansion, wash him, dress him in fine apparel, and lay him in the richest chamber. The company set off to do the lord's bidding. Chirtopher Sly awoke. He blinked in the light of the magnificent room in which he found himself. He was sitting on a mountain of cushions;servants bowed to him in honor. Think this all must be the work of strong drink-as was often the case-he cried for more ale. When he was served all matter of food and drink, he objected, complaining that he was a simple tinker unaccustomed to such fare. As their lord had intructed them, the servants informed him that Chirstopher Sly did not exist; that he was indeed a lord who had awakened from a bad dream. Next, accompanied by a sultry music, in danced the new lord's pageboy (wife), with bosoms as large as a pair of oranges. Straightway, the tinker-lord wanted to carry her off to bed; but the servants insisted he must gaurd his strength, for he had been ill many weeks. So the ardent husband was forced to sit modestly by his bride and watch a play. As he watched, he became tranfixed by the dream-like drama that unfolded before his eyes: In Padua, an old Italian town, lived rich old Baptista Minola and his two daughters. The youger girl, Bianca, was an angel from heaven;the elder, Katherine, was a scourge from the "other place", with a mustard-hot temper and a sizzling tongue to match. Katherine had no suitors, while Bianca had two, which posed a problem for their father. Baptista would not allow the younger Bianca to marry unless someone took Katherine off his hands first-but surely it would "snow in hell" before any man married such a shrew!. Baptista pled with Bianca's two suitors, elderly money-bag, Gremio and the younger Hortensio, to consider, instead, his eldest daughter. They vigorously shook their heads. The resigned father the charged them to fin a tutor for his cherished young Bianca and hurried into the house, leaving the hapless pair to the mercies of Kathrine. They soon conceded that if either wished to woo gentle Bianca, they must find a husband for her scolding sister. Two strangers from pisa had witnessed this family scene. One, Lucentio, had fallen in love with Bianca at first glimpse, and he caught upon the idea of becoming her tutor. When his servant Tranio remined him that he had business errands in Padua for his father, Lucentio convinced Tranio to trade places with him. He would be two places at once-on business in the name of Lucentio, and as lover-tutor in the name of Tranio. The two exchanged clothes, and Lucentio stood transformed into a humble schoolteacher, while Tranio, in his master's wonderful raiment, became a wealthy merchant. Meanwhile, Hortensio, still pondering possible ploys to marry off Katherine, encountered an old friend from Verona, Petruchio, who expressed a desire "to wive it wealthily in Padua." Hortensio impulsively alluded to Katherine, but then squelched the idea; he could not wish such a women on his friend. But amazingly, the thought of a spirited heiress was to Petruchio's liking, and Hortensio at last agreed to help him meet Katherine. In return, he asked Petruchio to recommend a schoolmaster for Bianca-who would, of course, be Hortensio himself, in disguise. Then came Gremio, with a schoolmaster of his own to present to baptista-the starry eyed Luccentio. Behind them sauntered colorful Tranio, also on his devious way to woo Bianca-in his master's name. As the beaus lined up to vie for Bianca's love, each agreed to pay an allotted amount to Petruchio for removing the impediment-Katherine- that blocked their contest for lovely Bianca. Petruchio, money in his pocket, beamed with joy. Baptista