context

• In the Shakespeare's Globe's production Katherina wears a white wedding dress.

  • unconventional in Elizabethan era
  • Queen Victoria initiated the idea, to show her purity
  • highlights the innocent, obedient wife Petruchio wants to tame Katherina into
• Where is the play set?

  (Renaissance) Italy

  • warm, romantic
• In the Elizabethan era, weddings were strictly religious and holy ceremonies.

  • emphasises Petruchio's disrespect by arriving late and turning up in ridiculous costume
• Servants are socially oppressed by upper class

  • mirrors the Lord playing a practical joke on Sly
• The word 'shrew' had different meanings during different times

  • 13th century - malevolent, loud, wicked woman
  • 14th century - reference to the devil
• In the Elizabethan era there were very few ways to get a divorce and escape an unhappy marriage

  • could be why Baptista want Katherina to marry for love
• Comedies traditionally end with marriage however in TTOTS the wedding is in the middle of the play
• In the Elizabethan era loud women who talked too much were punished with the scold's bridle (torture device and form of humiliation)

  • Petruchio tamed Katherina to save her from torture
• Marriages in comedies are often based on vanity, deception and convenience
• What does marriage represent?

  • union
  • achievement of happiness
  • promise of regeneration
• Midsummer night's dream


  • Another comedy play written by Shakespeare
  • Also ends in woman's subservience to a man
• Sumptuary laws


  • In the Elizabethan era it was illegal to dress outside of class
  • Tranio could be put into prison for impersonating Lucentio and wearing his clothes
  • Only royals could wear purple