Farce or Romantic Comedy?

Most people, when reading The Taming of the Shrew, will interpret it as either a farce or a romantic comedy. Farce and romantic comedy have very similar definitions with only one slight difference: how the plot unfolds. Farce is described as “a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than the development of characters” (dictionary.com); a romantic comedy on the other hand is “a light, humorous play or movie whose central plot is a happy love story” (dictionary.com). William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew can be seen as either a romantic comedy, a farce, or even both. As a play within a play, being put on for the characters in the Induction, it was originally meant to be performed as a farce or a pleasant comedy, but if performed today, I believe it would be most widely accepted as a romantic comedy. There are many aspects to a romantic comedy but there are two that directly apply to The Taming of the Shrew – transformation and romantic interests.

In a romantic comedy there is usually a transformation of some sorts. Whether it be in a character or plot. The Taming of the Shrew has quite a bit of transformations. Sly is fooled to think he is a Lord, Lucentio plays a tutor, and his servant Tranio then portrays Lucentio. There is a background of transformation in the play before one even gets to the main transformation – Katherine from a shrew into a respectable wife.

In the Induction, we are introduced to Christopher Sly, a drunkard with a shrewish wife. Not long after leaving the alehouse, drunk, Sly falls asleep outside. A Lord returning from a hunting trip stumbles upon Sly and decides to have some fun “What’s here? One dead, or drunk? See, doth he breathe? /.../ Si...

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...ely,

But see, while idly I stood looking on,

I found the effect of love in idleness,

And now in plainness do confess to thee,

That art to me as secret and as dear

As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was,

Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,

If I achieve not this young modest girl.

Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst;

Assist me Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

Not only was Lucentio in love with Bianca, but so was Hortensio. Hortensio disguised himself as a tutor, Lucio, and knowing that Bianca wouldn’t be available until after Katherine was wed, convinced Petruchio to marry Katherine. In the end, Hortensio’s plan to marry Bianca failed because she was in love with Lucentio. Hortensio then decided to marry and tame the Widow; turns out Hortensio didn’t learn anything from Petruchio and the Widow became the dominant figure in the relationship.