The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. It provides a thorough exploration of the play’s plot, characters and main themes, including madness, abuse and social roles. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 52-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of William Shakespeare
• Presentation of The Taming of the Shrew
• Summary of The Taming of the Shrew
• Character study
  • Katherine
  • Petruccio
  • Bianca
  • Lucentio
  • Tranio
  • Hortensio and Gremio
• Analysis of The Taming of the Shrew
  • Sources
  • Language of the hunt
  • The subjectivity of madness
  • Flexibility of social roles

About The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s earliest and most controversial comedies. It tells the story of Katherine, whose father has decreed that her younger sister Bianca will not marry until she does. Bianca’s many suitors then conspire to find a husband for Katherine, whose quarrelsome nature has previously kept all potential suitors at bay. Eventually, a man named Petruccio decides to ‘tame’ her by subjecting her to all kinds of abuse, with the result that Katherine becomes an even more obedient wife than her sister. Although much of its content may be unpalatable to modern audiences, The Taming of the Shrew nevertheless provides us with valuable insight into social and gender roles in the Elizabethan era.

About William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is generally considered one of the greatest playwrights in history. He was born in 1564 in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and produced more than 30 plays during his lifetime, in addition to many works of poetry. His works are still frequently performed around the world today, more than 400 years after his death in 1616, and have been translated into every major language. Although the scarcity of historical records about him means that very little is known about his personal life, the enduring popularity of his work has cemented his reputation as the greatest writer in the English language.