Furthermore, the interpretation of the play and its themes have been duplicated again and again each in a new political climate filled with its own faults and problems. In a Nottingham production of the play Kate had a seemingly unjustified detestation for all she met, making her transition difficult to grasp and commend as plausible. WebTo my mind, the relationship between the Induction and the rest of the play has two central correlations: the way that it points towards the artificiality of the play setting, especially WebThe Taming of the Shrew, written by William Shakespeare, is historical proof that flirting and temptation, relating to the opposite sex, has been around since the earliest of times. arina has been truly tamed at the end of the play since she is the shrew that Petruchio tries all of his taming tactics on. Daspin especially, suggests that, although Petruchio believes he is initially right in trying to subdue his wife, it is in her matching his outrageousness. . This suggested that she was not forced into submission, but rather encouraged to let go of her anger and be ruled by her heart, rather than her past. www.knotsthefilm.com, The Bride Price This can be seen throughout Act 2, Scene 1 where Katherina strikes and binds Bianca. (Act 4, Scene 5). In sermons preached from the pulpit, in exhortations urged from the magistrates bench, in plays and popular pastimes, in morning and evening prayers at home, in early printed books rehearsing seemly female conduct, the tripartite ideal of womens chastity, silence, and obedience was proclaimed far and wide in early modern England. Another prominent theme of the play is the favouritism displayed between the two sisters. WebThe Taming of the Shrew continued to enjoy significant interest throughout the following centuries. A play that can be written so long ago and still remain a classic in the modern world of today can truly be recognized as one of the greatest and most valuable writings of all time. A Pleasant Conceited Historie, called The taming of a Shrew. | Submit In addition, it could be seen to make comments on gender and social class, where a lack of actual substance for prejudice and the importance of often-misguided perceptions can grant environmental and superficial characteristics more influence than actual qualities, as people?s opinions are shaped by what they are told not what they discover. The Taming of the Shrew, written by William Shakespeare, is historical proof that flirting and temptation, relating to the opposite sex, has been around since the earliest of times. He does this primarily through alterations to the setting and the characters, with few changes to the basic plot. The induction can also give a contrasting angle on the play itself.The role of Sly seems to mirror Kate almost identically, so the gender inferiority issue can be quashed slightly. WebAs many readers of The Taming of the Shrew have noted, if in the end one shrew is tamed, two more reveal themselves: Bianca and the widow refuse to do their husbands bidding Towards the end of the play, Petruchio demands that Kate agrees to his absurd belief surrounding the sun and the moon. The less violent but equally coercive taming strategies that Shakespeare has Petruchio employ can be linked to a humanist tradition represented by Juan Luis Vives, Erasmus, and later Protestant reformers, who recommend persuasion, not brutality, as the means of inculcating wifely obedience. However, the BBC version and Daspin?s adaptation imply the later. A Megera Domada (The Taming of the Shrew) A megera domada (2008), by Cia. " A concept that stems from the neverending summer in which a moment of time is held in infinity but also nothing. One adaptation capitalises on the "Love is battlefield" (Vox, 2016) concept is Phyllida Lloyd's production with an All-Female Cast. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It depicts the social attitudes to the institution of marriage as was in existence during the Elizabethan days. Presenting Taming Of The Shrew To A Modern Day AudienceThe Taming Of The Shrew is an extremely difficult play to present to a modern day audience, as its controversy, caused by prominent themes including dominant males, submissive women and general inequality in the sexes simply can not be accepted in present society. Witless else her son?, and long for her not to yield to him, but to free her off the anti-conformist barriers she has placed between herself and happiness.The first meeting is a difficult passage to convey convincingly and in an acceptable manner. In early modern England, the family was the basic unit of production as well as consumption, the site of the pooling and distribution of resources and of the reproduction of proper subjects for the commonwealth. How Much Rain Did Panama City Get Today, And graceless traitor to her loving lord? In the anonymous play, the Sly action is completed with an epilogue in which Sly awakes after the comedy to rediscover himself a tinker and vows to return home to tame his own shrewish wife. Shakespeares heroine, Kate, in The Taming of the Shrew refuses to abide by these Renaissance ideals of womanly submission. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. It is this that gives the relationship an immediate fire and purpose, namely to encourage adaptation in each party in order for them to express their love. While there is no conclusion to the frame in The Taming of the Shrew, an alternative, possibly even a source version of the play - The Taming of a Shrew - does conclude with Sly being unceremoniously dumped outside the alehouse, his lowly status reinstated. TAMING is the operative word in The Taming of the Shrew, a play about the arranged marriage of Petruchio and Katherine. Episode 1 discusses the very real and very current issue of forced marriage. by the Lord into his newly decided role, most focus entirely on the plight of Petruchio in ?taming? Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. So taking on this 16th century play and giving it a contemporary feminist twist through music and dance was the challenge Eugene Ballet's Artistic Director Toni Pimble undertook in the creation of . WebThe Taming of the Shrew. Bronny James Gaming Setup, where her alteration is emphasised, and, if Petruchio had retained his arrogance, this would have made a terrible ending. The Taming of the Shrew remains as relevant today because of its relation to the age-old story of the battle of the sexes and dynamics of marriage, as well as the womans struggle with both of these. | Store. These and the oral folktales on which they are based include incidents similar to the plot of The Taming of the Shrew: a father with two daughters, one curst (i.e., bad-tempered) and spurned, the other mild and sought after; a suitor determined to tame the shrew; a farcical wedding scene; quarrels of the sort Kate and Petruchio have at his country house and on the road to Padua; and a bet on the most obedient wife. The Taming of the Shrew is still performed today because the social commentary of Shakespeare's time can be adapted and applied to current global and social issues. The setting for 'The Taming of the . Do The Gender Roles In "The Taming of the Shrew" Still Exist Today? WebA local lord plays a trick on Christopher Sly, a poor tinker, and arranges for an acting troupe to put on a play called The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare also uses this recurring theme later in The Comedy of Errors, when Luciana reminds Adriana that men are masters of their females (The Comedy Of Errors). No lines in the play have been more variously interpreted than this final speech in which Kate advocates womens submission to their husbands wills. Did Petruchio simply want control? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The plays contemporary success depends first on comic virtuosity, but in a time of rapid social change when traditional gender roles are being challenged and the malleability of identity is increasingly acknowledged, audiences take pleasure in The Taming of the Shrews representation of the instability both of conventional gender hierarchies and of human identity itself. WebThe best search terms to sell more products. his ears are caught by ?cursed?, ?shrewd? Zip. The Taming of the Shrew has been popular onstage since its earliest production, though, like many of Shakespeares plays, in radically altered forms. Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies. The Taming of the Shrew is still relevant today through the constant reproduction, and in turn interpretation, of the elements, themes and concepts that surround the controversy that is Shakespeare and his work. Its reception is marked, however, by ongoing polarised However, this method of direction could upset and offend many viewers as it presents quite a sexist viewpoint. by ; Since The Taming of the Shrew was written, many words in English have changed their meaning, and some are no longer used. www.tooyoungtowed.org Such shifts threatened perceived hierarchies in Tudor and Stuart England: men complained of upstart courtiership, of a socially mobile middle class, of masterless men, and of female rebellion. If Kate presents her final monologue in a tongue in cheek fashion with the money from the wager awaiting her and her partner she will show her control, as the winning of the bet is totally in her hands. The plots diverge at the marriage of Kate and Petruchio (3.2), briefly to reunite (after the taming scenes at Petruchios house and Lucentios gulling of Baptista) on the journey back to Padua when Kate calls Lucentios father a young budding virgin (4.5.41). Despite being one of the most beloved classic comedies of all time, it is also one of the most problematic work of Shakespeare. Please try again later. That she allows herself to be true to her heart. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When a wooer seeks the shrewish daughters hand, the father warns him against this devilish fiend of hell. Unmoved, he marries her and proceeds to tame her by means of beatings and torture: after cudgeling her bloody, he wraps her in a salted morel skin. When Shakespeare wrote The Taming of the Shrew, it was widely known that women should be subservient to their husbands. However, in Petruchio?s "the mind that makes that body rich; / and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, / so honor peereth in the meanest habit" he suggests the opposite. Learn about the building renovation and start planning your visit. Her sarcastic attitude and violent temper ruin all of her ladylike qualities. New comedy typically follows the unities of time and place: the lovers are already at odds with some authority at the outset, and the play enacts only the intrigue that brings them together. WebThe Taming of the Shrew is a particularly complicated example of Shakespeares construction of a dramatic world in that he creates one world in what we call the Inductiona world inhabited by an English beggar and an English lord and his attendantsand then creates a second, Italian, world for the main body of the play. WebThe Taming of the Shrew essays are academic essays for citation. 2 The Taming of the Shrew V. Conclusion: Through the behavior and disguises of the characters, as well as the crossdressing on the Elizabethan stage, The Taming of the Shrew emphasizes that appearances are easily mistaken for reality, both in life and in the theater. WebThe theme of Shakespeare's "The Taming of The Shrew" is mostly about gender roles and how men and women relate to each other. the true depth of his transformation is beautifully demonstrated, although he acts like a gentleman he still thinks and feels like the rogue he is, therefore, when Kate professes that ?My hand is ready may it do him ease? Sly changes from ?by present profession a tinker? Women are just one socially oppressed group in the play; another is the class of servants that are continually beaten, abused, and insulted by the likes of Petruchio, Vincentio, and other noblemen. Some critics have accepted Kates speech simply as testimony that she has been tamed; others argue that it must be understood ironically as pretense, a strategy for living peaceably in patriarchal culture. The Taming of the Shrew, written by William Shakespeare, Women in Taming of The Shrew, Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew a play written by William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew, The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare, William: The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeares comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeares Identity In The Taming Of The Shrew Research Paper, Merchant Of Venice-Portia & Bassanios Indifference To Wealth. ; . In the Nottingham production Petruchio employs aggression to gain control, and the humour and flirtatious fire present implies that Kate wishes for this to happen. 2 Pages. as if Petruchio is moving her lips an d speaking for her, suggests that women will submit to a man?s cruelty if sustained for long enough. Main Menu; by School; by Literature Title; by Subject; by Study Guides; June 16, 2016. Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature 44 (1990): 229-42. But my question is, has it done so successfully? Find out whats on, read our latest stories, and learn how you can get involved. Some people find The Taming of the Shrew to be one of Shakespeare's most compelling comedies. The Taming of the Shrew: Directed by Barry Avrich. The main action of The Taming of the Shrew takes place as a play within the play, performed for the benefit of a drunken tinker, Christopher Sly. This is proof that Katharina is not so much tamed, as she is educated. A speech where Kate sounds completely brainwashed and controlled, as she did in Nottingham; staring blankly at the audience, spurting ?my husband is thy Lord, the life, the keeper?? Kate is portrayed as an intelligent, quick-witted woman, therefore it would not be out of character for her to rely on Petruchios ignorance to manipulate her situation into what she desired in her new lifestyle. "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, is a very notorious play that has been rewritten and turned into multiple Hollywood films. This depicts the servitude that ties the lower-class to the lords, furthering the notion that like Kate, they have not power nor status to say no. Petruccio and Katherine: Mutual Love within Hierarchy; Explore the ways in which Shakespeare uses metatheatre in his . A play in which the heroine can be referred to as the devil, a wench, a fiend of hell, a rotten apple, and so on has been saved in the form of a farce and an asset to historical writings (Van Doren 91). For instance, who now uses the word "groovy"? Authors WebAwesome A-Level The Taming Of The Shrew Essays & Coursework Examples that have been Marked by Teachers and Peers allowing for the best possible results. More The film stars Elizabeth Taylor (who also produced) as Kate and Richard Burton as Petruchio, who were both nominated for BAFTA Awards for their acting. It features Cyril Cusack, Michael Hordern, Michael York, and Victor Spinetti in supporting roles. The Taming of the Shrew premiered with a Royal Film Performance on 27 February 1967. These two traits are seen in the Nottingham and BBC productions. Mindy Killgrove. The BBC took a similar approach. Though Katharina seems heartless and unemotional, her one true fear is losing Petruchio. The appropriation of Ten Things I hate about you into a contemporary setting makes it relevant for today's audience, (as does its presentation as a feature film), which preserves the integrity of the play perhaps even more so than a direct transposition would, because it has the same purpose and intent - to comment about the societal . They point out that during the period from 1560 until the English Civil War, England suffered a crisis of order brought about by enormous economic, demographic, and political changes that produced acute anxiety about conventional hierarchies.1 Groups that had traditionally been subject to the authority of othersmerchants and actors, servants and apprenticeswere enabled by rapid change to enter social spheres that had been customarily closed to them. As Furstnau suggests this play satirizes not the woman herself in the person of the shrew, but male attitudes toward women. (Accessed 21/08/2018). In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare carefully interweaves his main plot and his subplot: Lucentio sees and loves Bianca (1.1); Petruchio vows to marry Kate (1.2); Petruchio woos her (2.1); Lucentio and Hortensio woo Bianca (3.1). WebThe best search terms to sell more products. (It is also important to refer to the historical context of the play and the concept of shrewish behaviors in the Elizabethan times). This play within a play is a delightful farce about a fortune hunter who marries and tames" the town shrew. A megera domada (2008) is a stage adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (1592), produced by Cia. Original . Shakespeare's works are in constant reproduction because they are relevant. just as Kate?s respect and opinion of men alters from ?and paint your face like a fool? Shakespeare and the English playwrights modify this structure further by melding it with the romance tradition of the chaste lover (like Lucentio) who wishes only for marriage from the start. In the Greco-Roman tradition, the female character is often an unmarriageable slave or courtesan, and the resolution sometimes entails mistaken identitythe woman is discovered to be a citizen lost or sold into slavery at birth, in which case the play can end in marriage. Petruchio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? Thus, comic value can be exploited in a different fashion. All the character deception in The Taming of the Shrew creates dramatic irony. Petruchio plans to deprive her of what she is accompanied to, such as sleep and food; he does this in such a cunning manner in which she cannot possibly be mean to him, for he is acting the way in which she acts.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'studyboss_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-studyboss_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'studyboss_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',106,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-studyboss_com-medrectangle-4-0_1');.medrectangle-4-multi-106{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. In Taming of the Shrew Lucentio Transforming from ?I?ll see thee hanged?? Today, however, in America this notion seems ludicrous. And the play continues to be a staple in both secondary and postsecondary school curricula. Inside you'll find 30 Daily Lessons, 20 Fun Activities, 180 Multiple Choice Questions, 60 Short Essay Questions, 20 Essay Questions, Quizzes/Homework Assignments, Tests, and more. Dive deep into the worlds largest Shakespeare collection and access primary sources from the early modern period. WebThe Taming of the Shrew was a play written by Shakespeare in the Elizabethan era where men were considered to be superior to women. By the early seventeenth century it had already prompted a sequel, John Fletchers The Womans Prize; or the Tamer Tamed (c. 1611). Hamlet (AVON) by Royal Shakespeare Company, production company; Doran, Gregory, director. Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." As, although not totally happy, Kate sees in Petruchio something that see desires; a suitor who is not afraid of her and, although not totally serious, one who embraces her supposed faults as beauty. However, in 10 Things I Hate about You women like Kat have power and are allowed to be opinionated and not look up to men. Learn the important quotes in The Taming of the Shrew and the chapters they're from, including why they're important and what they mean in the context of the book. Member Login; Contact Us; Search; DO Online; Members and students; For the public; Policy and regulation; About us; ABDO advice on Covid-19; Join ABDO; Members and students. The Taming of the Shrew is sometimes seen as an account of the tyranny of man over woman, but this is a misinterpretation stemming from our distance from the assumptions of Shakespeares day (Shakespeare A to Z 626).var cid='9687976154';var pid='ca-pub-3243264408777652';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-studyboss_com-box-3-0';var ffid=1;var alS=1002%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';} In contrast, it could be said in admiration of the convincing lie she is spurting. Others find it sexist, or at least offensive in the way it depicts women and how they should behave. It is therefore essential to see the relation this has with Kate?s situation. Initially resistant to the servants attempts to convince him he is a Lord, ?I am Christopher Sly?, his mind is only changed when he is given a ?wife?, the change is made clear by an indication of class Shakespeare often employs; his speech transforms to that of a more elegant cultured man, an obvious parallel can thus be made between the rapid change in Kate?s attitude. But history alone cannot account for Shakespeares presentation of the shrew-taming plot. ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); The irony of their marriage is vividly expressed when it is revealed that Petruchio is merely looking for a woman who is capable enough to run his estate. The hypocrisy of the on lookers can be shown through the sweet Bianca disrespecting her father behind his back and the supposedly loving suitors making crude gestures of Bianca, the latter can be shown when Hortensio says ?he hath the jewel of my life in hold? Here is an elegant and clear text for either the study or the rehearsal room, notes where you need them and the distinguished . Popular folktales and fabliaux, marital handbooks, sermons, and educational treatises all resort to the language and vocabularies of animal taming. WebThe Taming of the Shrew: one of Shakespeares most problematic plays. From a feminist perspective, the character development of Katherine portrays the conformity needed to survive in the Shakespearean era. In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare has Petruchio compare taming Kate to training a falcon, and he peppers Petruchios speech with the technical language of hawk taming. Taming The Shrew by illiam Shakespeare is a comedy play tactfully and purposely divided into five entertaining acts (Plot Structure). In the play, the gulf between Renaissance ideals of a submissive femininity and the realities of womens behavior is wide. Patrick Stewart "THE TAMING OF THE SHREW" Ben Kingsley 1967 Lond. Within the Australian Copyright Act (1968) fair dealings by definition mean using the material in any of the ways reserved to the copyright owner (ACC INFORMATION SHEET G079v08 December 2017) and not the legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances as expressed in US fair use copyright law (copyright.gov July 2018). After she marries Petruchio, Petruchio tries to "tame" her, and he forces . Katharina and Petruchio share an unusual relationship; he has trouble taming her, and she battles with keeping him happy, for she is now in love and is experiencing something new. Disguise figures prominently in The Taming of the Shrew: Sly dresses as a lord, Lucentio dresses as a Latin tutor, Tranio dresses as Lucentio, Hortensio dresses as a music tutor, and the pedant dresses as Vincentio.These disguises enable the characters to transgress barriers in social position and class, and, for a time, each of them is successful. wife? Televangelist Scandals In The '80s, 52. Rules will always change and marriage will always have it's indifferences. WebThe Taming of a Shrew William Shakespeare 1998 This is an edition of the anonymous play which is a version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. But her father has sworn no man will wed his favored daughter, Bianca, until Kate is led away to the altar Kate is transformed after enduring the irrational world of Petruchios country house, where she is denied food, sleep, and the fashionable accoutrements of her social class until. Shakespeare, however, dramatizes the entire action, from Lucentios falling in love and wooing Bianca through the intrigue that leads to their marriage and on to the celebratory feast at the end. The price of Kates resistance is summed up in Hortensios taunt, No mates for you, / Unless you were of gentler, milder mold (1.1.5961). Not only does this show the bitter relationship between sisters caused through the favouritism of their father, but it also depicts the ongoing violence within society and the Minola Family. This patriarchal society heavily influenced Shakespeares play, as it reflected the traditional values of the Elizabethan era. Kubernetes Connection Refused Between Pods, Humour doesn't always stay relevant; however, the social commentary it represents does. embodies this, he boasts of his power and thrives on the opportunity he has to dominate Kate. The persona of the Shrew is therefore the act, which Petruchio helps her to shed and thus acquires her love, it is when [she kisses him] followed by ?Now I pray thee, love, stay.? SEE Resources; Sustainability Self-assessment Tool; Though the Lord's cruel treatment of Sly is based on class rather than gender hierarchies of privilege, it nevertheless sets up a . arguably more copious than any other scene in Shakespeare, he does match her. Shakespeare used the rich vocabulary of his day within his plays and also made up words when it suited him. The theme of Shakespeare's "The Taming of The Shrew" is mostly about gender roles and how men and women relate to each other. However, he was humbled by her humility, as shown in ?Why there?s a wench? and in he other ?he must move them to laugh at his situation?. Literary: Leslie Ford leslie@jacksonentertainment.net, Copyright 2023 Lita Lopez | Design Assist by JClayton Design | All Rights Reserved | Login. dresses as a lady he is perceived to be a lady and as Sly is dressed as a Lord he thus becomes a Lord. The outrageous Petruchio can not appear to lust after Kate in the conventional way as shown in ?10 Things I Hate About You? For example, in the early broadside The Taming of a Shrew or the only way to make a Bad Wife Good: At least, to keep her quiet, be she bad or good, a father counsels his newly married son not to chide his wife and to give her reign over the household to prevent marital strife. When Katharinas transformation began, her first reaction was self-pity (Draper 98). This is an uncompromising, confrontational production that does not let you forget how unacceptable it is that its themes are still relevant today. The Taming of the Shrew remains as one of the greatest Shakespearean plays.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'studyboss_com-box-4','ezslot_8',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-studyboss_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'studyboss_com-box-4','ezslot_9',107,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-studyboss_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-107{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. WebThe Taming of the Shrew, written by William Shakespeare, is historical proof that flirting and temptation, relating to the opposite sex, has been around since the earliest of times. In Its lasting impression imprints itself into the minds of its readers, for it is an unforgettable story of sex, flirting, and happiness. Punishment for such crimes and for related offenses involving sexual misbehavior or domineering wives who beat or abused their husbands often involved public humiliation: the ducking stool, carting, and/or reproof by means of the skimmington or charivari (an informal ritual in which the accused woman or her surrogate was put in a scolds collar or paraded through the village or town in a cart accompanied by a procession of neighbors banging pots and pans). Taming of the Shrew debuted in the 16th century. Sit by my side, and let the world slip: we shall neer be younger.. (91) $5.00. and made available to the Renaissance through his Latin imitators Plautus (254?184 B.C.E.) Ariostos play was modeled on the classical new comic tradition generally traced to the Greek playwright Menander (4th century B.C.E.) Indeed, her last attempt at contradiction, when denying him a kiss, is followed by her first pronounced love for him "Now pray thee, love, stay" is stated with an authentic desire for his company previously unheard, clearly showing that she has not been broken by him, but liberated to express her true emotions.Identity is a key theme in the play.