Analyse how a modern composer has adapted a Shakespearean play to reflect modern values and attitudes.
The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare is undeniably a classic which confronts controversial values and attitudes that still exist today. Quintessentially, the movie 10 Things I Hate About You has in several aspects drawn upon themes from Taming of The Shrew. However, as this movie is a modern adaptation, it is apparent that some cultural values have indeed revolutionized, which can be seen through the characters and cinematic techniques.
Love and Marriage is a prominent issue throughout the Taming of the Shrew. In the Elizabethan society where Shakespeare lived, it was expected that women were to be weak and submissive. Katherine's monologue revealed she had been defeated and that she is now tamed by Petruchio. " Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee...."(5.2.2654-2655)
Ada Rehan as Katherine in Augustin Daly's producti...
John Cleese and Sarah Badel in the BBC Shakespeare...
Petruchio forces Katherina to call the sun the moo...uses repetition of thy which indicates that she now fully belongs to Petruchio. It can be interpreted that it is a one sided love in which she does not declare her love for him and instead she changes her view of love by supporting society's norms during that period. That is, the husband has an obligation to provide for the wife and women should be obedient to men. It would be true to say that this play truly depicted the culture of the Elizabethan society in which there was no such thing as love.
In contrast, the film 10 Things I Hate About You reflects modern ideals of love which differ from the Taming of the Shrew's. During the end of this film, Kat reads out her poem in front of the class which included Pat. This scene gradually had a level close up on Kat's face and silence...