The Taming of the Shrew: The State of Play

The Taming of the Shrew has been reinvented many times, offering a focused overview of key emerging ideas and discourses surrounding its contentious portrayal of gender, power, and identity. Each chapter offers new perspectives and combines to give readers an up-to-date understanding of the play's exciting and challenging aspects.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Taming of the Shrew, a play by William Shakespeare, has captivated, intrigued, and enraged audiences throughout its contentious history. This volume provides a comprehensive exploration of emerging ideas and discourses surrounding Shakespeare's problematic comedy, shedding light on how contemporary readings and adaptations of the play have aimed to reexamine and address the play's contentious portrayal of gender, power, and identity. Each chapter in this volume has been meticulously chosen to offer original insights and relevance to students, teachers, and researchers alike.

Key themes and issues addressed in this collection include:

Gender and Power: The Taming of the Shrew explores the complex dynamics of gender roles and power dynamics within the play. It examines how Shakespeare challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity and explores the ways in which power is wielded, contested, and subverted.

History and Early Modern Contexts: The play is set in the late 16th century in Italy, and its historical context plays a significant role in shaping its themes and characters. This volume examines the social, political, and cultural influences of the early modern period, including the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the rise of capitalism.

Performance and Politics: The Taming of the Shrew has been performed and interpreted in various ways throughout its history, reflecting the changing attitudes and values of different societies. This volume explores the political implications of the play, including its treatment of gender, class, and power, and examines how it has been used as a tool for social and political commentary.

Adaptation and Afterlife: The Taming of the Shrew has been adapted into numerous films, stage productions, and other forms of media. This volume examines the ways in which the play has been adapted and reinterpreted over time, exploring the challenges and opportunities that arise in translating Shakespeare's text into different mediums.

All the essays in this collection offer fresh perspectives and combine to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of what is exciting and challenging about The Taming of the Shrew. They engage with the play's complex themes and issues, drawing on a range of theoretical frameworks and critical approaches to offer new insights and interpretations. Whether you are a student, teacher, or researcher, this volume will be an invaluable resource for your exploration of Shakespeare's problematic comedy and its enduring impact on the world of theater and literature.

Weight: 292g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350217768