Taming of the Shrew : A presentation by
Demeter Bogoev and
Stefan Dichev Taming of the Shrew
AUTHOR AND HISTORY : A comedy by William Shakespeare.
Written in the end of the 16-th century. AUTHOR AND HISTORY
SHAKESPEARE : Renowned for his plays and poems.
Regarded as the greatest English writer. SHAKESPEARE
TIME PERIOD : Written in the Elizabethan era (associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I).
Considered to be the golden age in English history.
A time when music, poetry, literature and theatre flourished. TIME PERIOD
CHARACTERS : CHARACTERS THE SHREW THE “TAME” SISTER THE FATHER THE TAMER SUITOR ELDERLY SUITOR SERVANT 2 SERVANT 1 SERVANT 3 FAKE FATHER
THE SHREW - Katherina Minola : Disobedient
Headstrong
Violent
Supposedly, no one would want to marry her. THE SHREW - Katherina Minola
THE “TAME” SISTER - Bianca : Obedient
Innocent
Desired by many
Complete opposite of her sister THE “TAME” SISTER - Bianca
THE FATHER - Baptista Minola : Rich
Prefers Bianca to Katherina
Very, VERY greedy THE FATHER - Baptista Minola
THE TAMER - Petruchio : Poor nobleman
Eccentric
Adventurous
Also stubborn THE TAMER - Petruchio
BIANCA’S SUITOR: Hortensio : Wants to marry Bianca
Is a friends with Petruchio BIANCA’S SUITOR: Hortensio
BIANCA’S ELDERLY SUITOR: Gremio : Also wants to marry Bianca
A rival to Hortensio BIANCA’S ELDERLY SUITOR: Gremio
BIANCA’S OTHER SUITOR - Lucentio : Comes to the city to study
Accompanied by his servant BIANCA’S OTHER SUITOR - Lucentio
SUMMARY OF THE STORY : The play starts with an induction in which a drunkard is being tricked into thinking that he’s a lord.
He gets told a story which is the main storyline. SUMMARY OF THE STORY
Slide 14 : The story goes as follows:
Bianca, the shrew’s younger sister has many suitors. However, she is not to be married before Katherina.
Bianca’s suitors are a young scholar, a nobleman and an elderly man.
Because of her notorious temper, no one wants to marry Katherina.
Slide 15 : Hortensio and Gremio agree to work together to find a groom for the shrew.
Hortensio’s friend – Petruchio has come into town seeking fortune.
Since Katherina’s dowery is a small fortune, Petruchio agrees to marry her.
Slide 16 : Meanwhile, the younger sister needs tutors and all of her suitors decide to either impersonate a tutor or find one for her in order to get close to her.
Slide 17 : Then, Petruchio woos Katherina using reverse psychology and succeeds – they are now engaged to be married.
The marriage itself becomes a farce because of Petruchio and afterwards Katherina is taken to his residence against her will.
Slide 18 : What follows is more reverse psychology – Petruchio refuses Katharina food and clothes on the grounds that they are not good enough for her,
Finally, during a trip to her father’s home she catches on to what’s going on and shows her obedience by agreeing that the sun is indeed the moon.
Slide 19 : In a banquet in the two sisters’ father’s house there are three newly-wed couples – Petruchio and Katherina, Lucentio and Bianca and also Hortensio and his wife – a rich widow.
The three men make a wager on their wives’ obedience – whomever’s spouse comes the fastest when called will win her husband the bet.
Slide 20 : Of all, only Katherina comes, dragging the others behind her and gives a speech why all women should obey their husbands and defending the brainwashing she was put through.
THAT’S ALL, FOLKS! : THAT’S ALL, FOLKS!