The Taming Of The Shrew

Rating:
Summary: Comedy or Commentary?
Review: Bianca is a beautiful, educated woman, modest and loved by nearly all who lay eyes upon her. But she cannot be wed until her older sister, the shrew, witty, and temperamental Katharina, is married. This is our situation.

I enjoyed this play, as I do all of Shakespeare's comedies. But I found the latter half of the play to be far less humorous. I preferred Katharina outspoken ... she is full of insults and violence, as she beats her music teacher of the head with the lute. But after she marries Petruchio, she is "tamed," and subordinate. This in itself is important, (though not too funny), because Shakespeare is commenting on the subservient and domesticated role of women, and he obviously doesn't agree with it. I'd say that was a step forward towards equal rights if I ever heard one.

The number of sex jokes it phenomenal ... ha ha, Shakespeare is just as human as the rest of us.

Rating:
Summary: The Taming of the Shrew
Review: First of all Katharine and Bianca are two spoiled, self-centered, wenches. Katharine enjoys defaming others character,hearing her own voice, and inducing pain in her little sister while Bianca is a pathetic, whinny, future trophy wife, who has never had an original thought in her life. Katharine and Bianca embody two female extremes, extremes that no self respecting woman should ever be. The guys on the other hand... Are no better. Lucentio is your typical male. He wants a demure, innocent but dumb blonde bombshell while Petruchio in today's time would be considered a hick. His moto concerning women would be "They should be barefoot and pregnant."
So if you enjoy stories that are insulting to woman, difficult to understand, and glorify hicks then this is the book for you, if not, don't bother.

Rating:
Summary: Taming Of The Shrew
Review: I found this story to be extremely elementary. This Shakespeare fellow obviously has no idea what he is talking about, and I hope he refrains from releasing anything in the near future.

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Summary: Clever and witty play
Review: Of all of Shakespeare's plays that I have read, this is the most enjoyable. The characters are real and engaging - the sweetly stupid Bianca and her hoard of suitors, Baptista, who is more interested in selling his daughters to rich husbands than making them happy, the sly and masterful Petruchio, and most of all, Katherine, the Shrew. The play is full of action, comedy, and enough mistaken and hidden identities to keep the reader happily confused.

Katherine, who appears to be "tamed" by Petruchio's cruelties, learns the art of subtlety and diplomacy that will enable her to survive in a society ruled by men. Her speech in the last scene is not a humbling affirmation of the superiority of men, but a tounge-in-cheek ridicule of Petruchio, Lucentio, and Hortensio, who think that a woman can be tamed like a wild animal by a few days of bumbling controll.

The Folger Library of Shakespeare's plays are the most readable editions that I have seen. There are detailed side notes and definitions of unfamiliar words, which are perfect for the reader who is not familiar with Shakespearean English.

Rating:
Summary: Great Classic Comedy
Review: Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew is dramatic, witty, and hilarious all at the same time. The plot itself borders on ridiculous, as it is unlikely anything like it would happen in real life. However, the play is made plausible by realistic characters. Perhaps Shakespeare's characters are so believable because they all seem like people we could know today. The shrewish Kate and the seamless Bianca may as well be sisters in the house down your street. The doting Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio are reminiscent of high school teens trying to win the head cheerleader. In the end, this play not only takes us back to a time not so different from our own, but teaches us some lessons as well.
This comedy has a lot to offer readers. It reasons that like Petruchio with Katherina, sometimes it takes a little cruelty to show kindness. After days of starvation and punishment all under the guise of love, Kate learns to respect her husband. At the same time, she learns to love him.
Overall, this classic play is definitely worth reading. Those who take the time won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Good play
Review: The synopsis made simple for the Taming of the Shrew is: Katharina is a 'shrew,' with a flaring temper, a streak of sarcasm, and is less elegant as her sister Bianca. She is then betrothed to Petruchio, who uses the 'cruel to be kind' method to try to change Katharina's personality by being cruel and uncompromising towards her. In the end it ultimately works, and Katharina becomes more subtle, respectful, and ultimately falls in love w/ Petruchio.

It is a great play by Shakespeare, very humorous (with a genius use of sarcasm wit and puns), and it is one of his more rewarding plays on many levels. Not only is it a pleasure to read, but the theme of the story, by transforming a shrew into a better person, is very positive, a relief from the darker subjects Shakespeare used in his more famous plays (i.e. Romeo & Juliet).

Rating:
Summary: A Magnum Opus
Review: The Taming of the Shrew is a comedic play by our favorite playwright Shakespeare. It is a unique love story with hidden comedy throughout. Though a tad difficult to keep the many characters and their doubles straight, it is an enjoyable read.

The plot revolves around an overprotective father who is unwilling to let his attractive younger daughter, Bianca, wed, until his shrewish older daughter, Katherine, is married first. A brave young man, Petruchio decides to test his intellectual and mental capabilites, by marrying Katherine. His goal is to turn her into a good,submissive wife, hence the title, The Taming of the Shrew. After Katherine is wed the courtship of beautiful Bianca begins.

Throughout Katherine's courting, only teachers would be admitted near Bianca. The plot deepens as two men in competition for Bianca's hand pose as teachers. One proves to be victorious, the other a milksop, settling for a wealthy widow as his newylwed.

Petruchio and his recalcitrant wife appear continously through the duration of the play, providing the majority of the comedic entertainment. All in all, a great choice.

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Summary: Shrew Review
Review: The Taming of the Shrew is a great read for high school literature classes. Shakespeare uses love in this play to set up many comical situations. It is a nice change of pace from the traditional Shakespearian love tragedy which we have all been subjected to. This book is easily related to by teens. I personally related to the two suitors for Bianca. They both wanted her more than anything and were forced to wait because of a shrewd sister and an overbearing father. This was one book that I had no problem sitting down, reading, and enjoying on my own time. This book is a necesity for all high school literature classes.

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Summary: Oxford World's Classics is the best choice for Shakespeare
Review: There are many reviews of the play below,, so I am reviewing this particular edition of tthe play. As someone reading all of Shakespeare for the second time, I am always alble to learn something from the World's Classics introduction. They are scolarly and complete and the text always has footnotes on the same page. I have tried other editions but these are the best.
The Taming of the Shrew although it does contain episodes that are misogynistic to modern ears does portray a couple truly in love. As an early play Shakespeare is beginning to find his own voice.

Rating:
Summary: Great story.
Review: Very funny story. Gotta hand it to Shakespear here, it is a nice comedy. Just slightly not my style.

The notations on the words/phrases were invaluable for a shakespearian layman like myself. The names all slurred together after a while so I found myself reading out-loud and still getting a bit lost. Everyone impersonating everyone else...who are impersonating someone else...confusing.

The book, although good, gets 3 stars because I had to rent the movie of the play to get it. Once I figured it out, however, the book made sense and was funny. This one may be a book to pass up, and watch the movie instead. Too many characters with names that all sound the same to make it an easy read.