The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare – Key Facts

 

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare – Key Facts 

Key Facts

 

Full Title: 

The Taming of the Shrew

 

Author: 

William Shakespeare

 

Type of Work: 

Play

 

Genre: 

Comedy

 

Language: 

Early Modern English

 

Time and Place Written: 

Estimated to have been written between 1590 and 1592, in England.

 

Date of First Publication: 

The play was first published in 1623, in the First Folio.

 

Publisher: 

The First Folio was published by William Jaggard and Edward Blount.

 

Tone: 

The tone is comedic, though it also explores themes of power, gender roles, and societal expectations with a mix of satire and farce.

 

Setting (Time): 

The play is set in the late 16th century, during the Italian Renaissance, though the precise historical period is not specified.

 

Setting (Place): 

Primarily in Padua, Italy, with some scenes taking place in the countryside and various locations around the city.

 

Protagonist: 

The protagonist can be considered either Petruchio or Katherina (Kate), as the play focuses on the dynamics between the two. Katherina is often viewed as the primary protagonist due to her transformation and central role in the plot.

 

Major Conflict: 

The major conflict is between Petruchio and Katherina as Petruchio attempts to "tame" her into submission and conformity with societal expectations of women.

 

Rising Action: 

The rising action includes Petruchio's pursuit of Katherina, their tumultuous courtship, and the various schemes to "tame" her. The subplot involving Bianca and her suitors also contributes to the escalating tension.

 

Climax: 

The climax occurs during the final act when Katherina gives a speech about wifely obedience, demonstrating her apparent transformation and submission to Petruchio.

 

Falling Action: 

The falling action involves the resolution of the subplot and the overall resolution of the main conflict, with Katherina’s speech leading to a resolution of the central tensions.

 

Themes: 

- The nature of marriage and gender roles

- The power dynamics in relationships

- Social expectations and individual desires

- The nature of identity and transformation

 

Motifs: 

- Disguise and role-playing

- Deception and manipulation

- The power of speech and rhetoric

 

Symbols: 

- The "shrew" and taming imagery (e.g., the speech and the training methods used by Petruchio)

- The various suitors and their approaches to winning Bianca

 

Foreshadowing: 

The play foreshadows the central conflict through the use of the induction scenes and the framing device of the "taming" of a shrew being a humorous exploration of societal norms.