Question:
The Taming of the Shrew is a domestic comedy which engages with the early modern
commonplace that household government is analogous to the larger governance structures of the
state. In this structure, the head of the household (ideally male) should govern those below him.
The Taming of the Shrew is a domestic comedy which engages with the early modern
commonplace that household government is analogous to the larger governance structures of the
state. In this structure, the head of the household (ideally male) should govern those below him.
2
Obedience by household subordinates is expected; though, subordinates each have their own
place within the household hierarchy. We will be learning about these household structures and
expectations by reading and discussing excerpts from popular conduct manuals.
When portraying the households in Shrew, Shakespeare makes use of various recurring images.
You will be looking for two of them: (1) actions or images that recall governance and (2) animal
imagery. You must find 4 examples of actions/images of governance and 4 examples of animal
imagery for a total of 8 passages. Over the 8 passages, you must include examples from all 5 acts
(you may also include passages from the Induction).
Type out the full passage, including act, scene, and line numbers. Underneath the passage, write
1-3 sentences of context and 3-4 sentences of analysis. When formatting this question, have
separate clearly labeled sections for governance and animal imagery.
Example:
“My husband and my lord, my lord and husband, I am your wife in all obedience”
(Induction.2.106-07).
Context: The Lord is playing a trick on the beggar Sly. He is trying to convince Sly that
Sly is a nobleman. One way he does this is to have his page boy dress up and pretend to
be Sly’s wife.
Analysis: The page boy equates husbands (in the household) with lords (in the state). Just
as you would owe your obedience to the head of state, you owe your obedience to the
head of household. The ‘proper’ wife is subject to her husband’s will just as the ‘proper’
citizen is subject to the monarch. This expectation of obedience is so commonplace that it
is enough to convince Sly he really is both a husband and nobleman.
Obedience by household subordinates is expected; though, subordinates each have their own
place within the household hierarchy. We will be learning about these household structures and
expectations by reading and discussing excerpts from popular conduct manuals.
When portraying the households in Shrew, Shakespeare makes use of various recurring images.
You will be looking for two of them: (1) actions or images that recall governance and (2) animal
imagery. You must find 4 examples of actions/images of governance and 4 examples of animal
imagery for a total of 8 passages. Over the 8 passages, you must include examples from all 5 acts
(you may also include passages from the Induction).
Type out the full passage, including act, scene, and line numbers. Underneath the passage, write
1-3 sentences of context and 3-4 sentences of analysis. When formatting this question, have
separate clearly labeled sections for governance and animal imagery.
Example:
“My husband and my lord, my lord and husband, I am your wife in all obedience”
(Induction.2.106-07).
Context: The Lord is playing a trick on the beggar Sly. He is trying to convince Sly that
Sly is a nobleman. One way he does this is to have his page boy dress up and pretend to
be Sly’s wife.
Analysis: The page boy equates husbands (in the household) with lords (in the state). Just
as you would owe your obedience to the head of state, you owe your obedience to the
head of household. The ‘proper’ wife is subject to her husband’s will just as the ‘proper’
citizen is subject to the monarch. This expectation of obedience is so commonplace that it
is enough to convince Sly he really is both a husband and nobleman.