Misogyny and Misogamy in The Taming of the Shrew: A Sketch of Shakespearean Productions

Abstract

Thanks to the unquestionable merit of his timeless thoughts and vivid protagonists, William Shakespeare and his oeuvre were observed from various qualitative and quantitative aspects (e.g. DUSINBERRE, Juliet, 1975, STŘÍBRNÝ, Zdeněk, 1955, 2003, MUIR, Kenneth, 2005, etc.). Shakespeare’s plays as well as sonnets were translated into innumerous languages and his plays were presented in myriad versions, from traditional performances to peculiar adaptations (e.g. Nekrosius’s Macbeth featuring farmers, grafted fruit trees, etc). Shakespeare’s plays inspired many stage and film directors. His protagonists represent archetypes of modern drama. Last but not least, selected extracts from Shakespeare’s plays assume a significant position in the literary curriculum. There have been countless remarkable Shakespearean productions in Pilsen since the Municipal Theatre was established in 1902; the recent theatrical Shakespearean interpretations include e.g. The Taming of the Shrew (October 2008) and Romeo and Juliet (April 2009). The essay thus attempts to analyze the specific aspects of The Taming of the Shrew performed on Pilsen stages from the beginning of the 20th century. Furthermore, similarities and differences between the original play and these peculiar renditions will be emphasized. The essay concludes that each generation perceives the appealing magic of Shakespeare’s language and timelessness of his themes through its own particular prism, allowing for a variety of distinctive (re)interpretations.