The Taming Of The Shrew - Humor :: essays research papers

In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespe atomic number 18 creates humour through his characters by creating fancied realities (as demonstrated by Petruchios behaviour and attire in the scene of his wedding) and by the use of subterfuge and mistaken identity (shown in the final scenes with the transformation of Kate and Biancas respective personas). He overly uses irony quite extensively, especially towards the end of the play (as can be serven in the final wager scene). The concept that things argon not always as they seem is quite evident in the events surrounding, and including, Petruchios wedding ceremony. This particular scene in the play demonstrates how the use of false realities (a real situation wrong presented in order to deliberately deceive) can be used to create humour. Biondello describes Petruchios appearance to Baptista, and by doing so sets up the expectations of the audience. He says that Petruchio comes wearing invigorated hat and onetime(a) jerkin a pair of old breeches thrice turned a pair of boots that have been candle-cases, one buckled another laced an old rusty swordewith a broken hilt and chapeless his horse hippedwith an old mothy saddle (Act III Scene II)This depiction of Petruchio conforms to Shakespeares technique of using false realities, in order to create humour. This can also be seen in the false identity that Petruchio puts forth in his quest for dominion over Kate (that of the causa egomaniac). However, these false realities are not enough by themselves, as the audience has nothing to go by but what they see before them, and so they are not to know that this is not Petruchios true personality, and so Shakespeare employs another essential element of humour he lets the audience know what is truly transpiring, period the characters themselves remain oblivious to the truth. He does this using a soliloquy, in which Petruchio states the strategies he shall use in order to tame KateShe ate no meat instantly nor none shall she e atand as with the meat some undeserved fault Ill find about the making of the bed This is the way to kill a wife with kindnesshe that knows better how to tame a shrew, not let him speak(Act IV Scene I)This soliloquy serves to reinforce the fact that things are not always as they seem. So the knowledge gleaned from this soliloquy means that we find the other events involving Kate and Petruchio even more amusing, as we can see that it is nothing more than an elaborate game of chess, instigated by Petruchio.