Interpreting the Shrew

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Franco Zeffirelli's 1986 film adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", specifically focusing on scene interpretation as well as character portrayal in the film version compared to that of the original text. It attempts to show that Zeffirelli's film provides a plausible interpretation of Shakespearean play.

From the Paper:

"The first thing noteworthy about the film opposed to the text is that the opening and ending scenes of the text which includes Christopher sly (as Lord) and the real Lord is omitted in the film (Shr. induction). Sly, is a beggar who wakes up to find himself made a Lord, he is the victim of a trick played on him by a real Lord who thought it would be enjoyable to stage this elaborate hoax. In this scene a play is put on, the play Sly and the Lord watch (roles reversed) is, Taming of the Shrew. So, in the text version there is a play within a play, but the film version omitting the induction presents us only with the single story of The Taming of the Shrew."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square P,1992.
• Taming of the Shrew. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. RCA, 1986.

More papers on Interpreting the Shrew:

• Analytical Essay # 136103 : "Comedy in "Taming of the Shrew"
• Analytical Essay # 2384 : "Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew"
• Analytical Essay # 62022 : "Petruchio"

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