The Taming of the Shrew
Book Title: The Taming of the Shrew
Book Description: Baptista Minola, a lord in Padua, insists that if his youngest daughter Bianca is to be married that her older sister Katherine be married first. Bianca, the more desirable of the two sisters, has no shortage of suitors. However, Katherine, the titular “shrew,” has a temper so notorious that it is thought that no man would ever wish to marry her. When Petruchio comes to town in search of a wife, Hortensio, one of Bianca’s suitors convinces Petruchio to marry Katherine. Only interested in her money, Petruchio marries Katherine and returns with her to his country house in Verona in order to “tame” her, a task that he soon finds out is more than he bargained for. Meanwhile, Gremio, Lucentio, and Hortensio, now free to court Bianca, all vie for her hand in marriage.
Book Author: William Shakespeare
Book Format: Paperback
Publisher Logo:
ISBN: 978-1420953381
Number Of Pages: 100
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Story / Interest
(1)
Questionable treatment and portrayals of women
The inspiration for many plays, movies, and characters, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare is a comedy play that follows the story of Katherine and Petruchio, two people forced together in marriage to suit Petruchio’s gold-digging aspirations. The story is frustrating at many points, but has some lessons about gender equality (or the lack of) (definitely the lack of). I would recommend this story for older teenagers or adults, as its language can be complex at times and there is terrible treatment of women that needs to be discussed. I didn’t enjoy how the genders were pitted against one another in the story, nor did I love how Katherine was punished and traumatized in the story. I know it is Shakespeare, but I would rate this story 1 out of 5.
Overall
3