Taming of the Shrew

Plot Summary

A robust and bawdy battle of the sexes, this ever popular comedy captivates audiences with outrageous humor as Katharina, the shrew, engages in a contest of wills–and love–with her bridegroom, Petruchio. Their boisterous conflict is set off against a more conventional romantic plot involving the wooing of Katharina’s lovely and compliant sister, Bianca. Rich with the psychological themes of identity and transformation, the play is quintessentially lighthearted, filled with visual gags, witty repartee, and unmatched theatrical brilliance from Petruchio’s demand, “Kiss me, Kate!” to the final spectacle of the wedding feast.

Each Edition Includes:

• • Comprehensive explanatory notes
• • Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship
• • Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan English
• • Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories
• • An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography