The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 19.0063 Monday, 4 February 2008
From: Jack Heller <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 1 Feb 2008 16:09:00 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Petruchio's Blasphemy
Along with Hardy and some others who have commented on a recent thread,
I am not a fan of TAMING OF THE SHREW, but I decided to teach the play
this semester because of some upcoming performances of the play in the
Midwest. And something occurred to me in my latest reading: some part
of the early modern response to the play might be tempered by the
audience's response to the report of Petruchio's behavior at his
wedding. For those who might have viewed marriage as a sacrament,
Petruchio's behavior crosses into blasphemy. I don't think identifying
Petruchio's fault ameliorates our difficulties with this play, but I do
wonder if there are any records of how early audiences responded
particularly to his behavior at the church.
I have not yet read THE TAMER TAMED, so does that play give any insight
to this question?
Jack Heller
Huntington University
[Editor's Note: A point of clarification, I would not say that my issues
with _Shrew_ have to do per se with my being a fan of it or not. My
concerns are more with how problematic the play is and how difficult it
is, therefore, to teach. I do confess to being deeply troubled with
parts of the realizations of the play that I have seen in performance on
stage and on film.]
_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>
DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the
editor assumes no responsibility for them.