Similarities Between Taming Of The Shrew And 10 Things I Hate About You

Comparative Essay By Angela Allan

The ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ is a classic piece of literature written in the 16th century by poet, playwright, and actor, William Shakespeare. ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ is a modernized adapted version of Shakespeare's ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ with a lot of differences and similarities that the directors have changed to make the movie suit the time periods they were based on. But what are the differences and similarities?

The characters from both films are different with different names and different personalities, for example Walter Stratford from ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ is an overprotective father who will not allow his daughters, Bianca and Kat to date. “Rule number 1: No dating. Rule number 2: No dating till you graduate.” Is what Mr. Stratford said to Bianca when she asked to date, but then later changed the rule to “You can date when Kat dates”. Believing Kat would never date. But in ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ Baptista is looking for suitable suitors for his daughters Bianca, and especially Katherina the shrew. Baptista also treats the marriage of his daughters as a business, with making sure Katherina get

married before easily giving away his daughter Bianca. Another similarity is that in both films Bianca’s sister Kat, had to be the one who had to date or as in ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ marry before Bianca.

The storyline for ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ is based off the same concept as ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’.

With Lucentio being new in Padua and being with his servant Tranio, looking around the village and falling head over heels for Bianca as soon as he saw her. “Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, if I achieve not this young modest girl.” Is what Lucentio said to his servant Tranio as soon as he saw Bianca. In ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ Cameron is new to Padua high and makes a new friend Michael Eckman, and eventually just like in ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ falls head over heels for Binaca. In the end Petruchio ‘tames’ Katherina and lives happily ever after. Even though in ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ Patrick doesn't torture Kat to get her tamed, he wins Kats heart which tames her antisocial

ways.

The plots remain the same during both films which makes them both similar. The plots are: Feminism, love, and relationships. Even though the idea of love and relationships was different in shakespearean times, with the wives being the maids of the house, always cleaning and working whilst doing what they're told by their husbands. Which in our modern age, is found very sexist and stereotypical. ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ has modernized the classic to suit todays idea of love and relationships. With the idea being women not getting forced into marriage and now getting the choice of who to date or marry.

In conclusion, there weren't any major differences between the two films. But there were some necessary differences to be made to fit the time period. In ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ they had a dance to replace the wedding that Petruchio and Katherina had in ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ which was a necessary change, just like the speeches that were made at the end by Katherina and Kat were changed to suit the time periods. But other then that, both films are similar in plots, concept and storyline.