Condemning of ‘The Shrew’
The Taming of the Shrew is a wonderful play that we theatre artists all love for the great characters, the comedy, the language…
But what about the “problem” of the audience? This play is one (of many) of Shakespeare’s works that has elements that just seems to rub we moderns the wrong way. Will spectators ever be able let that go and enjoy the play or will there constantly be a battle between an auditor’s conscience and the attempted justifications made in the director’s notes?
In a recent review of Baltimore Shakespeare Festival’s production, the critic states
There’s no getting around the misogyny at the core of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. You can try to talk yourself out of it, as dramaturg Jen Plants does in her program notes … You can try to restore the usually discarded framing device in an attempt to pass the whole thing off as a drunken dream. You can even cast a real ball of fire … as Katharina, the shrew who must be tamed.
Nothing works.
Theatres will usually try to present productions that are relevant today, that speak to modern generations. Most audience members watching Shrew will know in the back of their mind that this play was written 400 years ago for a very different audience with different thoughts about, well, a lot of things. But how can you convincingly justify putting on the play as something relevant?
It’s impossible just shrug relevance away and say “It’s a good play,” or “because it’s Shakespeare!” I’m sure no matter what you say there will be people flocking to come see it if it’s well acted. But the parts of the play that are relevant today are for the director to find or create.
You may have noticed that I don’t really have an answer for you. I’m a little conflicted over it. I enjoy the play for a variety of reasons that I have mentioned: the characters, the comedy, the language. But if I were an artistic director of a theatre company getting my chosen season approved by the board of directors and was asked to justify my choice of Shrew I might have a hard time convincing anyone. How would you justify it? Or would you at all?
Posted on July 25, 2008
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A.K.Farrar Jul 25
There is no misogyny in the Shrew - its not hatred of women (if anything, it is a love for women) but there could be sexism, and prejudice (only could be - it depends on the production). The critic obviously wrote with the intention of demonstrating his/her liberal credentials rather than understanding of the text.
I’ve just spent some time on The Shrew - and have gained a serious respect for both the framing device - which clearly states this is a deception you are going to watch, not a representation of reality; and the Elizabethan concept of marriage which is far more liberal and complicated than the quoted critic understands (or many directors). Ms Greer needs to be read on that.
This play is meant to question and attack some of the universal gender prejudices - it does so by presenting on stage, a very ambivalent and clearly fictional, wooing and wedding - it says is this what you think is right?
Shakespeare raises the questions, the audience need to find their own answers.
I am not saying there is no culture clash (and how right you are when yo say we must remember the difference) or that we would be (or should be) comfortable with the social regulations of the time - and our time, because, for most of the world, this is a norm.
A.K.Farrar Aug 1
I’ve just posted over on my blog a sort of counter to the more popularly held views of The Shrew and gender- it might prove of interest:
Katharine’s Just Deserts …
Benny Aug 3
It’s like merchant of Venice, isn’t it? Both plays are full of wonderful things, but, at their hearts, they’re both ugly plays. Maybe not in the context from which they were written- but their society was ugly in many ways, wasn’t it? Slavery, torture, misogyny, superstitions, ignorance, poverty and want all existed in healthy doses. Shakespeare’s plays are great when their merit transcends his society and speaks to the heart of humankind. It’s unfortunate when his contemporary world intrudes so heavily- warts and all. Shrew is a funny play and the writer achieves something extraordinary by having us laugh as things written 400 years ago, but there’s no denying it- this play can be an ugly menace.