Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew is a performance that raises a number of issues concerning appearance versus reality. The assumption that many characters in the play are persuaded to be what they are not ignores the evident fact that each character chooses the role that they are to play. The culturally constructed hierarchy of power causes the actors to perform certain roles to avoid the constricting norms in society and retain their identities. Despite the ease with which they mask their true selves, the characters exist as others to oppose the patriarchy. Shakespeare uses Sly, Katherine, Bianca, and Petruchio to reveal the power of the hierarchy as a farce that can be manipulated. Shakespeare uses the Induction to give the reader a notion as to what to expect, and introduce a number of crucial themes evident throughout the play. The Induction serves as a mirror to the rest of the play, emphasizes the theme of mistaken identities, and constitutes the Taming of the Shrew as a play within a play. This aspect of the Induction gives rise to the importance of performance, which has a drastic effect on one’s interpretation of the play. The play is portrayed as the dream of a drunken tinker, and therefore is, in effect, a farce perform
 1)APPEARANCE VS. REALITY Appearances are not always an indication of a person‟s true identity The play is full of physical disguises, deception, changes in attitude and behavior, and psychological changes The Lord‟s “transformation” of Sly from a drunk to a nobleman Lucentio disguising himself as a language teacher (Cambio) to woo Bianca Hortensio disguising himself as a music teacher to get close to Bianca The pedant impersonating Vincentio Tranio impersonates his master Lucentio
 3. APPEARANCE VS. REALITY Petruchio‟ s wedding embarrass and humiliate Kate. Kate accepting whatever Petruchio says is true Bianca‟s obedience (not as sweet as they thought) Kate‟s transition from a shrew to a tamed wife
 4. 2)DISGUISE Disguise figures