The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew.

Moscow 2000

Dramatis Personae.

SCENE is set in Padua, and Petruchio's country house.

The Contents of the Play.
Katharine was the eldest daughter of Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua.
She was a lady of such a disobedient spirit and fiery temper, that she wasknown in Padua by the name Katharine the Shrew. It seemed impossible thatany gentleman would ever marry this lady, and therefore Baptista, herfather, has given refusal to many excellent offers that were made to hergentle sister Bianca, putting off all Bianca's suitors with this excuse,that when the eldest sister will be married, only then they could maketheir offer's to young Bianca.
It happened, however, that a gentleman, named Petruchio, came to Padua,purposely to look out for a wife. Being not confused by reputation of
Katharine and hearing that she was rich and handsome decided to marry her,and to tame after a wedding. And truly nobody was so suited for this workas Petruchio, whose spirit was as high as Katharine's.
At first Petruchio went to Katharine and applied to Baptista to ask him thehand of his daughter, saying, that having heard of her best full modestyand mild behavior, he had come from Verona to solicit her lovely. Herfather warned Petruchio that Katharine would be not happy to hear suchnews, but being glad to get Katharine married, he answered that he wouldgive her twenty thousand crowns for her dowry, and half his estate afterhis death; so this contract was quickly agreed, and Baptista went to informhis shrewish daughter of such an offer, and sent her to Petruchio to talkto him.
At the same time Petruchio discussed with himself the mode of courtship heshould followed. Katharine would did not like the set of things, she inloud and angry terms had showed him how justly she had got the name of
Shrew, while he still was praising her in sweet words. And when Baptistaentered, Petruchio told him that his daughter had met him kindly, and thatshe had promised to be married the next Sunday. Katharine answered that shewould rather see him hanged on Sunday, and reproached her father forwishing to wed her to such a mad person as Petruchio. Petruchio asked herfather not to pay attention to her angry words, for they had agreed thatshe should seem reluctant before him, but that when they were alone he hadfound her very fond and loving.
On the Sunday all the wedding guests were assembled, but they waited longbefore Petruchio came, and Katharine even cried of disappointment andthought that Petruchio had been only jesting at her. At last, however, heappeared; but he did not bring any wedding dress which he promised to
Katharine, and he was dressed himself not like a groom, but as tramp.
Petruchio could not be persuaded to change his dress; he said Katharine wasto be married to him, and not to his clothes. They went to church. Baptistahad organized a marriage feast, but when everybody returned from church,
Petruchio, told that he would instantly carry his wife home, and they wouldnot be present at this feast. Petruchio mounted his wife upon a miserablehorse, which was lean and lank, and they went on.
After a weary journey, during which Katharine had heard nothing but theravings of Petruchio, they arrived at his house. Petruchio welcomed herkindly to her new home, but he decided that she should have neither restnor food that night. The tables were spread, and supper soon served; but
Petruchio, pretending to find every dish not suitable to eat, threw themeat about the floor, and ordered the servants to remove it away; and allthis he did, as he said, in love for his Katharine, that she might not eatmeat that was not well cooked. And when Katharine, weary and hungrydecided to rest, he found the same fault with the bed, throwing the pillowsand bedclothes about the room, so that she was forced to sit down in achair, where she felt asleep, she was awakened by the loud voice of herhusband, shouting at the servants for the bad-making of his wife's wadding -bed.
The next day Petruchio still speaking kind words to Katharine did not giveher chance to eat, throwing the breakfast on the floor as he had done withthe supper; and Katharine was forced to beg the servants to bring hersecretly a food; but they being instructed by Petruchio, refused to dothis.
At this day Petruchio decided to return to Batista's house and feast there.
On all way Petruchio continued to tame Katharine. On a road they had met anold man.

Then Petruchio knew that old gentleman, he was the father of Lucentio, ayoung gentleman who was to be married to Baptista's younger daughter,
Bianca, and he made Vincentio very happy, by telling him about that richmarriage of his son and they all journeyed together to Baptista's house,where there was a large company assembled to celebrate the wedding,
Baptista had willingly agreed to the marriage of Bianca when he had got
Katharine off his hands.

When they entered, Baptista welcomed them to the wedding feast, and therewas present also another newly married pair.

Lucentio, Bianca's husband, and Hortensio, the other new married man, couldnot be kept from jesting at Petruchio, and they hint at the shrewishdisposition of Petruchio's wife, and these grooms seemed high pleased withthe mild tempers of the ladies they had chosen, laughing at Petruchio forhis less fortunate choice. Petruchio took little notice of their jokes. Andhe offered a dispute in order to find out whose wife was more obedient. Theother two husbands willingly agreed, for they were quite sure that theirgentle wives would prove more obedient than the Katharine. Lucentio wasfirst who sent his servant to Bianca, but the servant returned, and said,that she refused to come. And then it was Hortensio's turn to send for hiswife. But the servant turned without mistress.
And at last Petruchio's turn came; he had sent the servant to his wife
Company had practically no time to think she would not obey her husband,when Baptista, and all in amaze saw Katharine entering the room.
And to the wonder of all present, the reformed shrewish lady spoke aboutduty of obedience wife, as she had practiced it implicitly in a readysubmission to Petruchio's will. And Katharine became famous in Padua, notas Katharine the Shrew, but as Katharine the most obedient and duteous wifein Padua.

My opinion.
"The Taming of the Shrew" is one of the earliest comedies of Shakespeare.
I like this comedy very much. It is evident, that it was written by ayoung, cheerful man.
It is the real comedy, which is full of lively situations and funnydialogues. It is very pleasant to recollect my first sensation from thescene 5 (the 4-th act), where Катаріна and Petruchio came back to
Baptista's home for a wedding feast. It seems to me that I could not stoplaughing in a loud voice for a very long time.
The action in a comedy develops very dynamically. There are no long anddull dialogues, unnecessary scenes and events. Everything is written soalive, that if there are separate moralizing scenes, they do not irritate.
Petruchio is the typical representative of his time - courageous, free fromprejudices, full of force and energy. He thirsts for struggle, success,riches, female love - and meets worthy opponent, she is Katharine. In herimage Shakespeare had represented traditional type of the quarrelsome womanfrom the medieval stories, but nevertheless he relieved her from unpleasantfeatures. She as well as Petruchio, causes the large sympathy. And
Katharine, giving way to Petruchio, still remains his worthy opponent. Evenit is difficult to understand, who from them will be the leader in theirfurther joint life.
One can consider the play as protection of a medieval principle ofunconditional submission of the woman to the man, or as a hymn tocourageous, beautiful and clever woman. But I think it is more correct toconsider it simply as a joke.
So this play is fine seen both at theatre, and in cinema. And I think itvery pleasant to the directors to put, to the actors to play and to thespectators to watch it.

Examples of the Language.
PETRUCHIO Come on, I 'God's name; once more toward our father's.

Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon!
KATHARINA The moon! The sun: it is not moonlight now.
PETRUCHIO I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
KATHARINA I know it is the sun that shines so bright.
PETRUCHIO Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,

It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,

Or ere I journey to your father's house.

Go on, and fetch our horses back again.

Evermore cross'd and cross'd; nothing but cross'd!
KATHARINA Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,

And be it moon, or sun, or what you please:

An if you please to call it a rush - candle,

Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
PETRUCHIO I say it is the moon.
KATHARINA I know it is the moon.
PETRUCHIO Nay, then you lie: it is the blessed sun.
KATHARINA Then, God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun:

But sun it is not, when you say it is not;

And the moon changes even as your mind .

What you will have it named, even that it is;

And so it shall be so for Katharina.
PETRUCHIO Well, forward, forward! Thus the bowl should run,

And not unluckily against the bias.

But, soft! company is coming here.

Vincentio enters

Good morrow, gentle mistress: where away?

Tell me, sweet Kate, and tell me truly too,

Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman?
Петруччо Мерщій, мерщій, - адже їмо ми до батька.
О боже, як місяць сяє яскраво!
Катаріна Місяць! Те сонячний, не місячне світло.
Петруччо Я кажу - місяць сяє яскраво.
Катаріна Я знаю: сонце так яскраво сяє.
Петруччо Клянуся сином своєї матері, -
А це я, - поки сяяти не буде
Місяць, зірка иль все, що мені завгодно,
Чи не їду. - Повертай коней!
Завжди, в усьому їй тільки б суперечити!
Катаріна Прошу вас, їдемо, раз що ми в дорозі, -
Будь це місяць иль сонце, що завгодно;
Хочете, назвіть хоч лучиною, -
Надалі так і буде для мене, клянуся.
Петруччо Я кажу: місяць.
Катаріна Місяць, звичайно.
Петруччо Ти брешеш: благословенне то сонце.
Катаріна Благословен господь, так, це сонце;
І скажіть - не сонце, так не сонце.
Мінлива місяць, як ваша думка.
Чим назвете, тим воно і буде
І тим повинна для Катаріни бути.
Петруччо Вперед, вперед! Так кулю котитися повинен,
А не підійматися по нахилу вгору.
Але тихіше! Хтось до нас сюди йде.
Входить Вінченцо
Синьйора, добрий день, куди йдете?
Скажи мені, Кет, та говори по правді:
Бачила ти дівчину свіже?
Рум'янець сперечається з білизною на щічках!
Які зірки в небі так сяють,
Як ці очі на обличчі небесне? -
Красуня, ще раз - мій привіт! -
Кет, поцілуй за красу сеньйору.
Катаріна Чарівна і юна дівчина,
Such war of white and red within her cheeks!

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty,

As those two eyes become that heavenly face?

Fair lovely maid, once more good day to thee.

Sweet Kate, embrace her for her beauty's sake.
KATHARINA
Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet,

Whither away, or where is thy abode?

Happy the parents of so fair a child;

Happier the man, whom favorable stars

Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow!
PETRUCHIO Why, how now, Kate! I hope thou art not mad:
KATHARINA Pardon, old father, my mistaking eyes,

That have been so bedazzled with the sun

That everything I look on seemeth green:

Now I perceive thou art a reverend father;

This is a man, old, wrinkled, faded, wither'd,

And not a maiden, as thou say'st he is.
Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking.

Куди йдеш і де ти пробування?
Хоч щасливі батьки твої
Ще щасливіший той, кому світила
Судили за дружину милі тебе!
Петруччо Як! Що з тобою, Кет? У думці чи ти?
Адже це старець зморщений і старий,
А не дівчина, як сказав.
Катаріна Прости мене, старець, - я помилився:
Від сонця я осліпла зовсім,
В очах пішли зелені кола.
Тепер я бачу: ти поважний стариць;
Пробач, будь ласка, помилку мені.

Katharina's

Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,

And dart not scornful glances from those eyes,

To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor:

It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,

Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,

And in no sense is meet or amiable.

A woman moved is like a fountain troubled,

Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;

And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty

Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.

Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee,

And for thy maintenance commits his body

To painful labor both by sea and land,

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,

Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe;

And craves no other tribute at thy hands

But love, fair looks and true obedience;

Too little payment for so great a debt.

Such duty as the subject owes the prince

Even such a woman oweth to her husband;

And when she is forward, peevish, sullen, sour,

And not obedient to his honest will,

What is she but a foul contending rebel

And graceless traitor to her loving lord?

I am ashamed that women are so simple

To offer war where they should kneel for peace;

Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway,

When they are bound to serve, love and obey.

Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth,

Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,

But that our soft conditions and our hearts

Should well agree with our external parts?

Come, come, you forward and unable worms!

My mind hath been as big as one of yours,

My heart as great, my reason haply more,

To bandy word for word and frown for frown;

But now I see our lances are but straws,

Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,

That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.

Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,

And place your hands below your husband's foot:

In token of which duty, if he please,

My hand is ready; may it do him ease.

Soliloquy

Соромся! Розправа насуплені брови
І грізних поглядів не кидай, не рань
Дружина свого і володаря:
Гнів губить красу, як ниву - град;
Як вихор, він славу добру розвіє,
І нічого приємного в ньому немає.
Сердита жінка - джерело мутний,
Противний, засмічений, потворний;
Їм кожен погребує, немає нікого,
Як би не прагнув, краплі не проковтне.
Чоловік - це пан твій, життя, захисник,
Глава і повелитель; про тебе
Печеться він, праць важким тіло
На суші і на морі піддаючи.
Він в холоднечу вдень і в бурю ніч пильнує,
Поки в теплі ти спочивати будинку,
І просить данини від тебе одного:
Любові, привітності, і послух -
Сплати малої за величезний борг.
Обов'язки підданих до монарха
І жінок до чоловіків їх - схожі між собою.
І та, що норовлива і сварлива
І чесної волі чоловіка не кориться, -
Хто, як не Жорсткі бунтар, вона,
Зрадник люблячому пану?
На вашу дурість соромно мені дивитися:
Ви там воюєте, де ви повинні б
Благати про світ, нахили своє коліна;
Наказувати, головувати хочете,
Хоч борг ваш - коритися і любити!
Як слабо, ніжно, м'яко наше тіло,