The Taming of the Shrew

Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, is hilarious and witty. I knew that the musical Kiss Me Kate was based off of this play, but I didn't notice before that the title of the musical is directly taken from a line in Shakespeare's comedy. Not only is this play full of mirth and outrageous puns, but it also addresses some interesting discussion topics.

Topics include:

• Spousal duties and mutual (or lack of) respect
• Being true to yourself during courtship as well as after marriage
• Having complete trust in a spouse, developing a fierce loyalty
• The roles of father toward single offspring
• Sharp tails and sharp tongues
• Motivation for marriage
• The pre-play introduction involving the drunkard that remains unresolved at the end of the play