The Taming of the Shrew would – under today’s circumstances – be considered to be a sex comedy. It would also be considered
to be horribly sexist. But that criticism is as misplaced as it is unfair; the play was written circa 1623 – and it is only natural that the mores (and customs) of the seventeenth century should be reflected in the play. That era was a male-dominated one, and male chauvinism was the norm. One does not think any the worse of Shakespeare for portraying the times in which he lived.
The story revolves around Baptista – a wealthy gentleman of Padua – and his two beautiful daughters
Katharina and Bianca. Bianca is gentle, obedient and good-natured; and therefore has no dearth of suitors for her hand in marriage. Her father insists that Katharina – being the elder – should be married first. But Katharina is of shrewish nature (an offensive term for a woman who is regarded as quarrelsome, nagging, or ill-tempered) and as her reputation precedes her, no one is willing to marry her – not even for her father’s money… That is, not until Petruchio enters the scene.
The other part of the story deals with Lucentio; and how he outsmarts his rivals (Gremio and Hortensio) for Bianca’s affections. Lucentio makes a practice of deception from the very beginning; and one is left with the distinct impression that the playwright believes the dictum that everything – short of outright murder – is fair in the game of love.
The common thread that binds these two different tales (of two dissimilar sisters) is the underlying male-female relationship. This is a difficult topic to tackle at the best of times, perhaps more so in the seventeenth century. If Shakespeare is to be judged by the highest standards – his own – he appears to fall somewhat short. Shakespeare has tackled the same theme with greater finesse and verve in some of his other plays... And a certain ambiguity seems to be lacking in his treatment of the subject in this play.
Should one marry for beauty or for money? This was a popular issue in those days, relevant to the audiences that flocked to watch these plays. At times, some of Shakespeare’s characters espouse one view, while at other times other characters espouse yet another view. However, Shakespeare has added a twist in this play: beauty and money both being there for the asking; what is lacking is the sweet disposition that was expected / taken for granted in one’s wife.
This is not one of Shakespeare’s
greatest plays, although it has enjoyed a certain popularity. Perhaps, it lacks the timeless quality that makes for greatness; perhaps it lacks the element of tragedy. But the characters are true to life and well developed nonetheless, and the play makes up in realism what it lacks in philosophical depth. Its greatest criticism is also its greatest strength – for it is an important social (and psychological) document of the times.