Comments on: Condemning of ‘The Shrew’ http://www.bardblog.com/condemning-of-the-shrew/ Quips, Quibbles, Queries, and Quarks from a Quirky Bardolator Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:51:48 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Benny http://www.bardblog.com/condemning-of-the-shrew/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Benny Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:36:01 +0000 http://www.bardblog.com/?p=177#comment-351 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. 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.

]]> By: A.K.Farrar http://www.bardblog.com/condemning-of-the-shrew/comment-page-1/#comment-348 A.K.Farrar Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:56:43 +0000 http://www.bardblog.com/?p=177#comment-348 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 ... 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 …

]]> By: A.K.Farrar http://www.bardblog.com/condemning-of-the-shrew/comment-page-1/#comment-344 A.K.Farrar Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:23:12 +0000 http://www.bardblog.com/?p=177#comment-344 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. 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.

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