The Taming of the Shrew was a Shakespearean play that was written between 1590 and 1592. Set in both Padua, and Verona, Italy, the play details the “love” story of Petruchio and Katherina. Shakespeare had written the play to be a comedic piece. In 1967 Franco Zeffirelli transformed The Taming of the Shrew into a movie. Maintaining the original story line and setting, Zeffirelli worked the relationship of actors Richard Burton, Petruchio, and Elizabeth Taylor, Katherina into the comedic movie. In 1999 the Shakespearean play was transformed again and directed by Gil Junger.
Junger’s movie, 10 Things I Hate About You, is a modernized take on the original play. Changing Katherina to Kat, and Petruchio to Patrick, Junger immersed the movie in the popular culture ideals of the 1990’s. Interpretations of the texts differ from person to person, this opinions will be based upon an individuals beliefs and values. I interpreted both texts to be misogynistic, although The Taming of the Shrew is more so than 10 Things I Hate About You. Whilst exploring the characters, plot and themes of the two texts, the idea of love did become more apparent within both.
The characters within Zeffirelli’s movie appear different in some ways, to those in Junger’s. Being set in the 1500’s, in Zeffirelli’s adaptation of the Shakespearean play Katherina was portrayed as a what was then known as a “shrew”. (definition of shrew on presentation) When we first see Katherina in Zeffirelli’s film, she appears to be rather unfeminine, when the era the film was set is considered. Throughout the movie Katherina appears to become more “tamed” and feminine, although she still has an occasional outburst of boisterousness.
Petruchio is portrayed as a very masculine figure who wishes to tame and control Katherina. He married her, almost against her will, after receiving payment from her father. He then removed her from her family and taunted her with the ideas of gifts and clothing before snatching them away in spite. Later in Zeffirelli’s movie he begins to twist her ideas of norm, to force her to display obedience towards him, and in turn other men. In Junger’s adaptation of the Shakespearean play “Kat” is portrayed as an undesireable tom-boy, in contrast to her sister who is pretty, blonde and feminine meaning she is, therefore, desireable.
Through-out Junger’s movie, I believe Kat sticks to her own values and beliefs and opens up to Patrick on her own merit, rather than being forced. It was obvious that Kat felt both upset and betrayed when she discovered that Patrick had been payed off by people who wanted to date Bianca, her younger sister, to date her. It was at this point that I realised that there were elements of love within Junger’s movie, rather than just misogyny. Plot Zeffirelli’s adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew contains as scene that was not written into the original play.
It contained actors Richard Burton, playing Petruchio, chasing Elizabeth Taylor, Katherina around her house and “playfully” attacking and tackling her. I, like many others, believe that this scene was worked into the adaptation, by Zeffirelli, to create a segment of drama that reflected what viewers spectated, or read, the actors private life to be like. Many fans and magazines have described Burton and Taylor’s two marriages, to be turbulent and unstable even though both remained fond of each other long after their second divorce.
Party in 10 things worked in because teen movie and party is a necessity Likewise in Junger’s adaptation a classic teenage movie scene was added to the adaptation. Bogey Lowenstein’s party was the turning point for Kat and Patrick’s relationship, as well as the scenes where Bianca realised Cameron was more genuine in his actions the Joey, who had been flirting with other girls. Originally Kat was only attending the for the sake of her sister being allowed to attend also.
Kat continued to drink what appeared to be shots of either tequila or vodka throughout the night, she began to dance on tables and was clearly very intoxicated. Patrick helped her off of the table and took her outside into the fresh air where they sat and talked before she proceeded to throwup on the floor next to him. After he had driven her home she went to kiss him but he refused. I believe that he did this thinking of her best interests in case it wasn’t what she actually wanted to happen. It was clear that, although Patrick liked Kat, he wouldn’t let that get in the way of his respect for both himself and her.
Themes Identify how masculinity and femininity are represented in each text. Do you agree with these representations? Why/Why not? Based upon my own beliefs and values, I feel as though masculinity held a very strong presence within both texts. The Taming of the Shrew contained multiple characters who displayed elements of masculinity in many of their characteristics, Petruchio was one of these. The way Petruchio’s house was portrayed in Zeffirelli’s adaptation was, to me, a clear identifier of his masculine characteristics.
In Junger’s adaptation the concept of masculinity wasn’t as prominent as in Zeffirelli’s version but the ideologies were still visible. Patrick displayed elements of a more mordern masculinity by wearing leather jackets and combat boots. He also appears to disregard most women until he is asked to date Kat. Femininity is the contrasting theme to masculinity and it was also prominent in both Zeffirelli and Junger’s adaptations. Katherina, and Kat, unsurprisingly, were not the characters in which feminity was portrayed. It was their younger sister Bianca who was feminine.
Both Katherina and Kat stood up for their own values and beliefs and defied societal dictations as to how they should act and present themselves. Katherina’s defiance was more frowned upon as Zeffirelli’s adaptation was set in the 1500’s. Kat was more accepted as Junger’s adaptation was set in the 1990’s, when society had adapted and begun to accept the defiance of feminine standards. Bianca, in both adaptations, was consired to be the perfect, feminine girl, whom everyone wanted to marry or date. In line with my own beliefs I think Bianca is an inaccurate portrayal of femininity.
Femininity isnt always about being quiet and appearing fragile and innocent, it can mean standing up for your beliefs and rights as a female as well as displaying aspects of womanhood within your everyday actions. Overall I believe that although misogyny is present within both of the texts, it is less apparent within 10 Things I Hate About You. Junger adapted the Shakespearean play to the societal norms of the late 1990’s meaning that opinionated women were not as frowned upon as they were in the era that Zeffirelli’s movie was set.
Zeffirelli’s adaptation was entertaining as it contained comedic aspects that entwined the outside lives of the actors into the movie. Both adaptations of the Shakespearean play displayed elements of misogyny although there were some elements of love that shone threw in Zeffirelli’s adaptation and even more so in Junger’s. Based upon my beliefs and values I preferred 10 Things I Hate About You when I considered both movies. I felt as though I related more to the character of Kat, than I did to Katherina, as she was portrayed as a high school student, around my own age and was experiencing issues still common within schools today.