William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew raises many important

issues, reflecting the context of the times it was composed and their

values. In its modern 20th century reproduction, 10 Things I Hate

About You, many of these issues are appropriated into different and

also similar values and themes with the same relevance it has in the

society.

The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies,

focusing on courtship and marriage, while also sharing the essential

characteristics of a romantic comedy - disguise, deception, slapstick

humour and a happy ending. The concerns of married life and in turn

the roles of men and women in the society, would have been

particularly relevant to English audiences of the Elizabethan times.

An important issue regarding Elizabethan marriages of mainly upper

class society would have been the motives behind these: that being

money, land and power. In the play, Baptista chooses the suitor to his

daughter Bianca by their offer of wealth.

"'Tis deeds must win the prize, and he of both

That can assure my daughter the greatest dower

Shall have my Bianca's love." (line 331, Act II, Scene 1)

Thus, what you own and acquire in a marriage pre-determined the

outcomes of marital disputes in such a society. However, 10 Things

introduces a more suitable and readily accepted theme - love. The

thought of marriage for wealth and power and 'purchasing' a wife,

today, is something greatly frowned apon. In the film, the payment of

Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to date Katherina 'Kat' Stratford (Julia

Stiles) was seen as something extremely off...

... middle of paper ...

...as a theatrical play, Gil Junger produced 10 Things

I Hate About You as a film, reflecting the change in values of

entertainment. Using film as a medium of delivering his appropriation,

with the advanced visual features that can be created, is able to use

features of the story in different ways that were once restricted by

the simplicity of the Elizabethan stage theatre. Scenes of greater

action are more attractive to modern audiences, especially adolescents

- the targeted audience of the film.

The context of the time and the audience determines the values and

themes that a text addresses. 10 Things I Hate About You alters the

issues that are not relevant today, from Shakespeare's Taming of the

Shrew to something that is appropriate to satisfy the levels of

expectations of a film's suitability to modern 20th century.