The Taming Of the Shrew

A comedy by William Shakespeare. Kate is the oldest daughter of Baptista and she is not the typical lady in waiting. She is a high sprited "tomboy" and labeled a "shrew." She has no desire to be tamed by any man. Her younger sister Bianca is dainty and pretty and has many suitors. Baptista so wants tp offer her hand to the wealthiest suitor to adjoin her dowry. However he cannot let her wed without his shrewess Kate wedding first! With luck a wandering rouge named Petrucchio has his eye set on Kate and he snares her in his trap and then thegames for Bianca's hand begin. Much mistaked identity proves when Lucentio becomes Gremio and one of his servents becomes Trainio, and Tranio then becomes Lucentio! Then When Vincentio who is father to the real Lucentio appears, he is faced by the false Vincentio, and Baptista, and Bianca are startled by the undoing of the charade and as the real Lucentio announces "Love hath Wrought these Miracles, Bianca's Love!" In the end The Kate is tamed and the marriages are set and the ideal of feminism has been undone and brought to nothing. If one looks a bit deeper it is Shakespeare taking a stick and poking the way of the day and it certainly has caused the reaction for and against this very funny tale for many generations. It is a great piece that will rouse some laughter and can be easily adapted to any time period for a creative spin!