Critically analyse and discuss the relationship of 'The Taming of the Shrew' to the wider Social and Political influences of its time.

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William Shakespeare wrote The Taming of the Shrew around 156, during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-160). Shakespeare lived at a time where ideas and social structure established in the Middle Ages still informed man's thought and behaviour. For example, Queen Elizabeth I was God's anointed one on earth, and the lords and commons had their due place in society under her. These beliefs in turn obviously influenced Shakespeare's writing. I believe that when these social ideas and political influences are explored fully, a play such as The Taming of the Shrew can be shown and indeed understood, in its proper perspective.

The Taming of the Shrew falls into the category of Shakespeare's early comedies; others included are The Comedy of Errors (c.158-4) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (c.157-1601). They are comedies of intrigue, fast moving, often farcical and place a high premium on wit. On the whole, they were meant to be performed in front of a general audience rather than for the court. Although, some critics suggest that the Taming of the Shrew, at least, was performed for Queen Elizabeth.

The Taming of the Shrew includes many themes social rank, disguise/appearance, education and clothing the overriding theme however is concerned with the discipline of an independent, headstrong woman. This main plot is in places quite farfetched and almost farcical, a popular and accepted form of writing in the Elizabethan period. The common man appreciated such a technique, as the action of a farce is often boisterous, over powering and also often provides for good visual humour. After all the common man did not always go to the theatre to see real life, as Shakespeare appreciated, but rather to join a land of fancy which farce plays could provide. As Chambers (1) comments

"The people of Elizabethan London did not go to watch the play, but be part of it."

Farcical elements within in the play include, the Vincentio scenario in Act V Scene I. In this scene, both the Merchant and Vincentio claim to be Lucentio's father imagine two grown men arguing over their identity

M 'Thou liest. His father is come from Mantua and here looking out the window'

V 'Art thou his father?'

M 'Ay sir, so his mother says, if I may believe her … lay hands on the villain'

V ' Come hither you rogue …'.

The wedding between Katherina and Petruchio also provides farce-like elements. Petruchio is described as, 'A monster, a very monster in apparel'. Petruchio swears so loudly during the ceremony that the priest drops his book and then he goes on to hit the priest, 'This mad-brained bridegroom took him such a cuff…'. It should be understood however, that unlike original farces, which provide little character development, Shakespeare manages to give individual personalities to his lead characters Katherina and Petruchio. For example as Hillegass (1) states

"Katherina … is more than merely a Shrew; to a certain degree, she is made an object of sympathy …"

Shakespeare also depicts a shrew transformed without physical violence, therefore maintaining a higher level of comedy than in a traditional farce of pre-Elizabethan times.

Elizabeth I was described by one historian as 'A woman ruler in a patriarchal world'. Despite the fact that Elizabeth succeeded to the throne after her half sister Mary I died (155-58), there remained a traditional, widespread belief that men were naturally endowed with authority, and women were intellectually and morally unfit to govern. According to Greenblatt (180), men saw themselves as "rational beings; they saw women as creatures likely to be dominated by impulse and passion. Gentlemen were trained in eloquence and the arts of war; gentlewomen were urged to keep silent and attend to their needlework." The Taming of the Shrew's time and customs can therefore be seen as approximately those of Shakespeare's own era. It should be understood, of course, that Shakespeare shrewdly wrote for the publics taste. As Gay (18) mentions

"Shakespeare did not have any fancy notions, he listened to what the public said, and he was quick to detect changes in taste",

showing how society influenced Shakespeare's work. After all he was a practical man who had to make a living from his writing, so it would have been unwise to write totally against the public's beliefs and thoughts. Katherina, therefore, is portrayed as impulsive, erratic and as being ruled by her mood swings. Whereas Petruchio, provides the stereotypical Sixteenth Century man; he appears rough, noisy, powerful and unfeeling. For example, Act II Scene I, marks Katherina and Petruchio's first meeting, where Petruchio proclaims

' Thus in plain terms …

Will you, nill you, I will marry you

For I am he born to tame you.'

In the Elizabethan period, men believed that once married a woman was their own property and all rights were surrendered to them. Shakespeare conveys this line of thought on many occasions throughout the play, most prominently in Act III Scene II just after Petruchio and Kate's wedding. He exclaims

'I will be master of what is mine own.

She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,

My household stuff, my field, my barn,

My horse, my ox, my ass, my everything …'

I believe, Elizabeth I's decision to remain single was partly due to an unwillingness to compromise her power, not only as Queen but as an independent woman as she herself is recorded as saying

"I will have but one mistress here and no master!"

However, although Shakespeare does include these typical Sixteenth Century characteristics within Petruchio, it must be stressed that Shakespeare's Petruchio does in fact possess two internal levels. He also appears patient, caring, understanding and intelligent. His behaviour seems unreasonable at first, but I believe he simply acts the lunatic lovingly for the sake of Kate. He teaches her through bitter experience how annoying and painful her nature can be to others. For example, Act IV Scene I

'Thus I have politically begun my reign …

She ate no meat today nor none shall she eat;

Last night she slept not, nor tonight she shall not …

This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.'

He therefore assumes a role to tame and transform Katherina into the wife he desires.

It should also be mentioned that although Shakespeare does present the accepted Sixteenth Century idea that in a marriage the man was the master; he also presents the theme of women being the one with the real power, or certainly equal (a more recent idea). Something most men of Shakespeare's era would have strongly denied. In Act V Scene II, a bet is placed between three of the men, Petruchio, Lucentio and Hortensio as to who has the most obedient wife

'Let's each one send unto his wife,

And he whose wife is most obedient …

Shall win the wager …'

Bianca and the widow, 'sit conferring by the parlour fire', when asked to attend, showing a lack of regard for their husbands, and when Lucentio chides Bianca she retaliates by saying, 'The more fool you for laying on my duty'. Surely, not the words of a Sixteenth Century noblewomen besotted with her new husband?

It could be argued however that Shakespeare does bring the tradition of Sixteenth Century marriage back in the play with Kate's final speech (Act III Scene II). Katherina remarks

'Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper …

I am ashamed that women are so simple

To offer war where they should kneel for peace'

However much controversy does surround this speech. At first an audience might think that Kate is completely subservient. However, it could be argued that Kate is basically just saying that a wife owes a husband obedience because he is her protector. Or perhaps it could be interpreted as ironic that Kate is merely playing a role, in order to fool the audience and other characters. Either way, it should be noted that Shakespeare therefore does not always present the conventional beliefs of Elizabethan England in The Taming of the Shrew.

The Taming of the Shrew is also largely concerned with the idea of disguise and false appearances, either with or without the aid of physical disguise. During the Sixteenth Century the European continental Masque travelled to Tudor England, where it became a court entertainment for the king, Henry VIII (150-47). The Masque was an entertainment in which disguised participants staged an elaborate lyrical drama, designed to be complimentary to the noble or royal host of the social gathering. During Elizabeth's reign the Masque provided a vehicle for compliments paid to the Queen at her palace and during her summer tours throughout England. Gorgeous costumes, spectacular scenery (with elaborate machinery to move it on and off stage), and rich allegorical verse marked the English Masque. It can therefore be suggested that the disguise elements of the popular Masque entertainments influenced Shakespeare's writing of The Taming of the Shrew. As early as Act I Scene I Shakespeare introduces this theme. Lucentio (a nobleman and eventual suitor of Bianca) and Tranio (his personal servant) swap roles, as servant and master, by exchanging their clothes

'Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead;

Keep house and port and servants as I should.

I will some other be some Florentine …'

in order to allow Lucentio to woo Bianca as a school teacher, rather than as a suitor. Hortensio, (a nobleman and friend of Baptista, Bianca's father) also physically disguises himself as Litio, a music teacher, in order to also woo Bianca without anyone recognising him. The disguising of characters also allows for good visual humour and again farce-like elements, as everything is so exaggerated. This type of comic irony was popular with the people of Elizabethan London.

Shakespeare entwines the main plot (Kate and Petruchio) of The Taming of the Shrew, with a sub-plot (Bianca and Lucentio) a popular style of writing. The sub-plot is based on the Italian comedy of intrigue, as Hilegass (18) comments

" … it is a comedy of situation, … type characters … the elderly father who is deceived by his child and suitor; the elderly suitor or pantaloon; and the ingenious suitor aided by a witty servant."

I believe the cross-sections of Shakespeare's audiences would have been satisfied with the play because it had such a sub-plot. The sub-plot allowed the opportunity for types of characters and action entirely different from the main theme and this appealed to many. Shakespeare belonged to a society, which longed to be romantic and poetic, and Shakespeare bases this sub-plot on such Elizabethan ideals. For example in Act I Scene I Lucentio cries

'I burn! I pine, I perish, Tranio

If I achieve not this young modest girl'

The Elizabethan Period was one of extravagance and excesses, and I believe that this influenced Shakespeare's writing of The Taming of the Shrew. Its extravagant nature was seen in the higher stratas of society dress, manners and speech which were rich, elaborate and ornate. There existed an emphasis on personal belongings and external image. Elizabeth I and her court always dressed lavishly, and took pride in their possessions. According to Greenblatt (180)

" Her passion for dress was bound up with political calculation and an acute self-consciousness about her image."

The importance that Elizabethan's placed on image and clothing, is explored extensively throughout the play. Most prominently in Act IV Scene III, where it plays a large place in Kate's taming process. Petruchio calls for a tailor and haberdasher, when the tailor produces a dress it offends Petruchio

'O mercy God! What masking stuff is this?

What's this a sleeve? 'Tis like a demi-cannon!'

Kate obviously remarks that she never saw a 'better fashioned gown'. Petruchio tells the tailor to take the dress away, and therefore uses the cap and gown to force Kate into submission. Kate is very aware of her personal image, like all Elizabethan noblewomen. In his final speech of this scene Petruchio notes that clothing does not make the man. 'Honour' he comments 'peereth in the meanest habit'. Perhaps he is referring to the good, which lives in Kate beneath the mean habit of ill-temper. Whatever the meaning, Shakespeare is commenting on his fellow Elizabethan man and telling his audience that clothes/appearance do not make the man, despite the Elizabethans reliance on them that such thoughts can be deceiving.

The Taming of the Shrew is full of social rituals banquets, weddings, discussions of dowries, shopping and education. The latter, is explored throughout the play, from a female perspective (it is used as an opportunity to woo Bianca), which is unusual because traditionally women of the Sixteenth Century were not fully educated, as one would expect today. Despite this, Bianca is educated by two tutors (although not professional) Baptista comments 'She's apt to learn'. I should think that it probably seemed strange to Shakespeare's Elizabethan audience that a young female should be educated to such a degree, as many would have been uneducated themselves. But, he probably managed to escape criticism because it was the only 'realistic' way the two suitors could befriend Bianca without recognition. Queen Elizabeth I's rigorous education was renowned however, she received teaching normally only reserved for male heirs; consisting of history, classical languages, rhetoric and moral philosophy. Therefore, perhaps with this in mind, it would have been more acceptable to Elizabethan society.

I have tried to establish the social and political circumstances of the Elizabethan period, which might have influenced Shakespeare's writing of The Taming of the Shrew. By observing popular, accepted techniques such as farce, the idea of Elizabethan London being 'a man's world', the wonderful and elaborate Masques held at court and other influences, I have tried to show how Shakespeare's writing was fully connected with his surroundings, and therefore also allow for better understanding of the text. It should be emphasised however that although Shakespeare was strongly influenced by the social and political standards of his era, as previously stated, he does include elements in this play that are almost post-Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century. For example; the prominent disobedience of the wives in Act V (and of course Kate throughout), the theme of female education. Like all great writers some of Shakespeare's ideas/themes were ahead of his time.

I believe that the relationship between the text and the social and political influences of its time have been fully explored that although it can be seen that Shakespeare was influenced by such factors; there exists suggestive hints that he was also just as capable of disregarding such influences when required.

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