Love and marriage are the concerns of Shakespeareâs The Taming of the Shrew. Lucentioâs marriage to Bianca is prompted by his idealized love of an apparently ideal woman. Petruchioâs wooing of Katherine, however, is free of idealism. Petruchio takes money from Biancaâs suitors to woo her, since Katherine must marry before her sister by her fatherâs decree; he also arranges the dowry with her father. Petruchio is then ready to marry Katherine, even against her will.
Katherine, the shrew of the playâs title, certainly acts much changed. But have she and Petruchio learned to love each other? Or is the marriage based on terror and deception?
The authoritative edition of The Taming of the Shrew from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:
-The exact text of the printed book for easy cross-reference
-Hundreds of hypertext links for instant navigation
-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
-Newly revised explanatory notes conveniently linked to the text of the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the playâs famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeareâs language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Libraryâs vast holdings of rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading
Essay by Karen Newman
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the worldâs largest collection of Shakespeareâs printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.