Taming of the Shrew Paragraphs

          Shakespeare chooses to use the idea of a play within a play in his play Taming of the Shrew.  In the induction of this comedy, a drunken man, Christopher Sly, is tricked into thinking he is a lord, and later begins to watch a play set up by the real lord (hence the play within a play).  The purpose of this "play within a play" is likely to create depth between the real audience and the comedy.  This depth is very important because in the play, there are many comedic ideas which are mean't to be funny, but can be taken offensively.  The idea of a play within a play lightens the mood and sets an unlikely setting where the comedy in the play is quite realistic unlike the real world.

          In Act II, Scene 1 of Taming of the Shrew, you get a strong feel for the relationship between sisters Kate and Bianca.  From brief appearances from the 2 sisters previously, you can understand who they are as individuals.  Kate for example is seen as the bitter sister as seen in her diction, and how she is described as by others in Act I when she says to Baptista, "[...] sir, is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates?" (57-58), and when Hortensio says to her, "No mates for you, unless you were of gentler, milder mould." (59-60).  Bianca on the other hand is seen as the more likeable sister of the two when compared to Kate.  When these 2 sisters are put together like in Act II, Scene 1, their personalities definitely clash with each others.  There is obviously jealously towards Bianca from Kate likely from the attraction of men to Bianca, and the little attraction to men towards herself.  Kate and Bianca's characters conflict very often and therefore enlarge the differences between their personalities.

          The use of disguises and deception throughout the play reoccurs many times.  Starting from the induction, Christopher Sly believes he is a lord when really he is being deceived by the real lord as a joke.  Following the deception of Christopher Sly, we see various characters in the play use disguises to further themselves in some way.  For example, in order to impress Bianca and be known to her, Hortensio devises a plan to disguise himself as a music instructor, as seen in Act I when he says to Petruchio,
"And offer me disguis'd in sober robes
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster
Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca,
That so I may, by this device at least,
Have leave and leisure to make love to her
And unsuspected court her by herself."
Along with Hortensio, other characters also disguise themselves as others as well to advance themselves.  The use of deception and disguises is a very useful tool in enhancing the humour in this comedy.