Performance, Theatricality, and Identity in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew

William Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew is a curious and often controversial play due to its depiction of spousal abuse and female subordination. But despite that charged reputation, it continues to be produced on stages around the world, with creative choices that suggest an attempt to change a supposedly un-feminist play into a feminist one. My thesis argues that this play already features notable feminist elements at the level of the text itself, stemming in particular from its thematic and structural investment in performance and theatricality and in the roles that these elements play in constructing gender and identity. Further, I suggest that The Taming of the Shrew operates with a theory of performance as an act of persuasion, inviting the audience to consider the effectiveness of the various forms of performance presented throughout the play. Through this framework, my first chapter involves close readings of key scenes from the play-text to explore the layered theatricality of Katherine’s taming. My second chapter then surveys a range of contemporary stage production to examine how they address the key issues that my close reading brings up. Finally, I conclude with my own take on the enduring relevance of this play