The Taming of the Shrew DD Period 1 Post 1
Colin Easter
So far, we have learned that a drunkard has been tricked to think that he is a noble watching a play. The play he is watching involves suitors trying to court the younger daughter of a rich man. They are unable to marry her because the elder daughter must be married first. However, the elder daughter has a terrible temper and scolds often. Only one man wants to try to marry her. He wants to because of the wealth that will come with her, not her personality. The other men agree to help him court her so they can marry the younger daughter. This brings about some interesting questions that can be asked. Why do you think that the overarching story about the drunkard being tricked is included? What do you think of the man who only wants to marry for wealth? Do you think that there will be physical fighting over the younger daughter since there are several men trying to win her over?
Category: Discussion Director 5 comments »
May 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I have no clue why the play about the man is in there but if I had to guess I would say that he is there and will watch the play and he will want to live like them and he will find love.
I think that the man marrying only for wealth is going to be a main character. He is making a fatal mistake and he will probably learn from it in the play and actually fall in love but I think that it will be with Bianca and she will love him.
I think that there will be fighting for Bianca. I think it will go on while Bianca and the man that was marrying for money are out together.
-Taran
May 10th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Sherpa Teddy Bear
(Sonam Sherpa)
To answer your first question Easter Bunny, I would like to say that I personally have no clue whatsoever why William Shakespeare included the part of the story where the drunkard sly is tricked into thinking that he is a noble. If I had to make an assumption though it would be that maybe William Shakespeare was trying to show how in that time period there were many people still living in the streets, who were just begging for help. Or, William Shakespeare might have been even going as far as showing how Nobles and Royals weren’t as high class as everyone thinks by showing the reader something that most people would consider “bad.”
Well, to answer your second question, it is hard to not want to judge the person who wants to court katharina only because she had a wealthy family. The reason why I think this is because we don’t really know what this person’s condition is. This person could just be a very smart, decent man who had hit some hardships along the way, or he could be some lazy bum who wanted to live a lavish life of luxury without working. If I had to give an answer on whether he was “good” or “bad” I’d have to say that he would be “good.” The reason why is because I don’t think that a lazy bum would be willing to marry a “w”itch like katharina just to get more money.
To answer your final question I would like to say that I think that there would definately be fist fighting over the courtship of the girls. Although I do think that there will be fighting over the girls, but I also think that there will be more underhanded moves being made opposed to fist fighting. I think this because as we can already see Hortensio is already trying to trick someone else into marrying katharina opposed to just fighting with the other guy for her little sister’s hand.
May 10th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
1. I think Shakespeare included the drunkard because the play that he is watching will have a direct link to his own life. I believe that it will teach him something about how to fix a problem that he has.
2. I believe that Petruchio is not the smartest. Personally, I cannot imagine marrying someone for their money, to then live in misery. For this reason I would have to say that Petruchio will marry Kate,but he will learn to realize that it was not what he anticipated. I am not sure if he will find a way to change Kate or he will decide that he cannot marry her, but I do not believe that he will fall for Bianca.
3. There is definitely going to be some fighting of Bianca. Love can do crazy things to people, so multiple guys liking the same girl is just asking for a disaster (I mean its bad enough in high school, but these guys have swords!). I am predicting some serious fighting at some point during the story.
P.S. just because I have been in a version of The Taming of the Shrew and Kiss Me Kate doesn’t mean that I am going to say what is going to happen. I am answering how I honestly would if I did not know the story… I don’t want to give anything away.
~Erin Campbell =]
May 10th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Colin Easter
1. I think that Shakespeare included this to show the tricks that are going to be played by the men. Two of the men are trying to become tutors to become closer to Bianca, much like how the noble dressed up his page to pretend to be the drunkard’s wife. It adds an entertainment factor to the play and an interesting opening.
2. I think that Petruchio is struggling to find happiness in life. He seems to think that money is the way to happiness. When he talked about how his father died, he only talked of the money that he had received. He also only cares about the money involved with marrying Kate. This does not seem like a smart move.
3. I think that there will be a small amount of physical fighting. However, I think that there will be a lot of slandering of the other men’s names and reputation. They will try to avoid physical fighting to appear stately and noble. However, they will try to tarnish the reputation of the other men with words to try to gain favor.
May 10th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I dont think that the drunkard has any significance, but just sets the play. Shakespeare can use this to set the scene of the play and help introduce it better. Maybe we will learn of the drunkard later.
Today many people do that in our society. For some people money is the center of their life. As some say only money can buy happyness. This is no different than today.
No, I think that the woman will choose the best anyway. Fighting will be useless considering that the woman will choose.