The elderly Gremio hires the disguised Lucentio to woo Bianca on his behalf. The Taming of the Shrew Introduction. It’s a story told by a man, Sly, in an alehouse in England, and his story is set in Padua, Italy – in a public square, in Baptista’s house, and in Lucentio’s house. She is denied everything she wants for a civilised life, including food and sleep. The Taming of the Shrew, comedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written sometime in 1590–94 and first printed in the First Folio of 1623. The following activity is a great way to introduce the story of The Taming of the Shrew to a group of students who are getting to know the play. In the first scene a nobleman finds the beggar Christopher Sly passed out at an alehouse and decides to play a practical joke on him. In this scene the action briefly returns to Padua. Finding Sly drunk out of his wits in front of an alehouse, the lord has his men take Sly to his manor, dress him in his finery, and treat him as a lord. She complains that he broke some glasses. I also tell them that often the "Induction" scene is omitted from staged performances but that it is so important to understanding the play that we need to read it, too. Read more about The Taming Of The Shrew settings. The drunken beggar Christopher Sly gets thrown out of a tavern and falls asleep. Petruchio acted rudely at the wedding and swore loudly in front of the priest who was marrying the couple. Lucentio glimpses Bianca, the young daughter of a merchant, and immediately falls in love. Two daughters of a local rich merchant Baptista (Michael Horden) are the focus of the story. Synopsis: The Taming of the Shrew. Nothing is what it seems to be. Gremio hires Lucentio, disguised as a Latin tutor, to woo Bianca on his behalf. The situation regarding Bianca is very complicated and Lucentio’s entry into the equation makes things even more complicated. In exchange, she has his permission to visit her father in Padua. In this lesson, we will first look at a brief recap of Induction, Scene 2 of 'The Taming of The Shrew'. Summary Act 3 . The Taming of the Shrew is a stage play in the form of a comedy that satirizes silly or unfair social customs and courting practices, often through farce. Summary Act 2 . He is a head strong, stubborn man who will not take no for an answer. It was an American western comedy film in 1963. The Taming of the Shrew: Synopsis & Plot Summary . He dresses Sly up in noble clothes and convinces him that he is a wealthy nobleman who has recently been mad and had forgotten his true identity. Bianca's father, Baptista Minola, says Bianca may not marry before her strong-willed older sister, Katherina. Hortensio, rejected by Bianca, has already married a wealthy widow. Tranio counters that Katherine is a devil, herself, but according to Gremio, she's "a lamb, a dove, a fool to him," (iii.2.159). The older daughter, Katherine, is outspoken and has a violent temper. Set in one of the Bards favorite countries, Italy, The Taming of the Shrew is set in Padua in the late 1500s. Plot Summary. Baptista has complete domination over his daughters and dictates to them on every matter. Lucentio loves Bianca but cannot court her until her shrewish older sister Katherina marries. He sees her as a challenge, which he decides to rise to. TL;DR: Katherine doesn't want to get married; Petruchio marries her and compels her to be obedient; everyone is happy? During the journey, Kate rebels against her husband but he begins training her to obey him. It was an American western comedy film in 1963. Petruchio is one of two central characters (along with Katherine) in Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew.. Petruchio is a wealthy young bachelor looking for an equally rich wife. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Since The Taming of the Shrew is one of the three plays Shakespeare wrote that has a play within the play, I explain this to students. The Taming of the Shrew is one of the earliest comedies written by sixteenth and seventeenth century English bard, William Shakespeare. The Taming of the Shrew study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Baptista welcomes this as he is fed up with Kate’s disruptive behaviour, that makes family life difficult. It’s a story told by a man, Sly, in an alehouse in England, and his story is set in Padua, Italy – in a public square, in Baptista’s house, and in Lucentio’s house. Adapting the Shrew. by Cole Porter. The Taming of the Shrew Summary. Im looking for a simplified summary of ACT 4 SCENE 3 in taming of the shrew, you can use sparknotes and from there go to no fear shakespeare which would solve your problem, Im doing a report on this how should I write it?? The following activity is a great way to introduce the story of The Taming of the Shrew to a group of students who are getting to know the play. The older daughter, Katherine, is outspoken and has a violent temper. Because The Taming of the Shrew deals with relationships between several different "courting" couples, it can capture the attention of adolescents. Feminism & Gender Roles in The Taming of the Shrew The Wild Swans at Coole by Yeats: Summary, Poem Analysis & Theme The eccentric Petruccio marries the reluctant Katherina and uses a number of tactics to render her an obedient wife. She complains that he broke some glasses. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays in total between 1590 and 1612. The end. The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s best-known comedies. Taming of the Shrew Short Summary As the play by William Shakespeare begins, the reader encounters Christopher Sly, a drunkard being thrown from a tavern. Baptista is enthusiastic about Petruccio's suit, since Katherine is a burden to him. Other scenes take place in Petruchio’s country house and on the road between there and Lucentio’s house. SCENE 1 Bianca urges Katherine to allow herself to be wooed and to get married lest her shrewishness condemn Bianca to be confined and sequestered unto eternity. When Ka The Taming of the Shrew Summary Introduction I: … Farce is a type of comedy that relies on exaggeration, horseplay, and unrealistic or improbable situations to provoke laughter. The Taming of the Shrew Summary. Lucentio glimpses Bianca, the young daughter of a merchant, and immediately falls in love. He hears that the merchant, Baptista, has two daughters. The Taming of the Shrew Quotes by William Shakespeare. Synopsis: The Taming of the Shrew. Christoper Sly, a drunk beggar is arguing with a hostess outside a ale house. There are many men who want to marry her. This detailed literature summary also contains Further Study on The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. The play Taming of the Shrew has been adapted for the stage, opera, screen, musical theater, and baller numerous times. Overview Synopsis Characters Scenes Full Play Reviews Documents The Tamer Tamed. Book Summary. Summary Petruchio, Kate, and Hortensio are on their way to Baptista Minola's house in Padua. When he sees Bianca, the pretty younger daughter, he decides he must woo her. Some scholars believe it may have been his first work written for the stage as well as his first comedy (Shakespearean 310). The nobleman then has the play performed for Sly's diversion. Each Shakespeare’s play name links to a range of resources about each play: Character summaries, plot outlines, example essays and famous quotes, soliloquies and monologues: All’s Well That Ends Well Antony and Cleopatra As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Cymbeline Hamlet Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry VIII Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry V Julius Caesar King John King Lear Loves Labour’s Lost Macbeth Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor A Midsummer Night’s Dream Much Ado About Nothing Othello Pericles Richard II Richard III Romeo & Juliet  The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Troilus & Cressida  Twelfth Night The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew Play: Info, Summary & Resources. Book Summary. Find out what happens in our Act 1, Scene 1 summary for The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. His servant Tranio accompanies him, and together they secretly witness quite a scene. He and the merchant arrive at Baptista's home, and the merchant, posing as Vincentio, gives his consent to the wedding between his son and Bianca.Baptista agrees and Tranio invites him back to his lodgings to finalize the agreement. As the action opens, he is being thrown out of an alehouse. Christoper Sly, a drunk beggar is arguing with a hostess outside a ale house. He learns about Katherine and resolves to court her, aided by both Gremio and Hortensio. The login page will open in a new tab. Baptista Minola, a wealthy widower of Padua, has two daughters: the demure and popular Bianca and her sharp-tongued and ill-tempered older sister, Katherina. The Taming of the Shrew Summary. Meanwhile, the real Lucentio has organised a secret wedding with Bianca, which they carry out. It is time to visit her father where Petruchio plans to demonstrate his wife’s obedience. Tranio, Lucentio's servant, dresses as Lucentio to convince Baptista to let Lucentio marry Bianca. Summary: Induction I. Drunken, he falls asleep before a nearby Lord's house. A lord comes across a drunken and comatose Christopher Sly, and conceives the idea of bringing him back to his house and treating him as a nobleman when he awakes, to see what happens. That wears her resistance down and eventually, she submits and becomes an obedient wife. The main action of The Taming of the Shrew takes place as a play within the play, performed for the benefit of a drunken tinker, Christopher Sly. Plot Summary. Sly passes out on the ground and, when a local Lord happens along, he decides to teach Sly a lesson. Money and the greed for it, is another major theme. Even the shrewishness of Katherine conceals a compliable nature: her shrewishness is a reaction to the hurt she feels at the treatment she has received from men. Baptista Minola has two daughters that he wants to find husbands for. Katherina (Kate) is the eldest daughter of Baptista Minola of Padua. The lively comic plot and appealing characters make it an excellent introduction to Shakespeare. Set in one of the Bards favorite countries, Italy, The Taming of the Shrew is set in Padua in the late 1500s. We will then have a look at a summary of Act 1, Scene 1. This free study guide is stuffed with the juicy details and important facts you need to know. They return now, while Petruchio and Kate are visiting and Baptista, relieved that it’s all turned out better than he had thought it would, hosts a party for his daughters. The Taming of the Shrew opens with an Induction. Read 19 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Lucentio marries Bianca and, in a contest at the end, Katherina proves to be the most obedient wife. The following short summary of Taming of the Shrew provides a brief description of this famous William Shakespeare play. The Taming of the Shrew is a play within a play by Shakespeare. In the early 1600s, John Fletcher wrote a sequel called The Tamer Tamed in which Petruchio is himself tamed by a new wife. A Lord passing by notices Sly and decides to play a trick on him. The Taming of the Shrew study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. In the play performed for Sly, the shrew is Katherina, the eldest daughter The plot thickens when Lucentio, who has recently come to Padua to man willing to counter her quick remarks; however, at the ceremony. I am looking for this play in modern english. His older daughter, Katharina, is known for being wild … The Taming of the Shrew Summary. Celebrating Shakespeare is at the heart of everything we do. This is an interesting play in that Shakespeare explores the relationship between men and women intensely – more so than in any other play. In Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, one topic that has been debated, interpreted, discussed, reinterpreted and adapted into different forms has been the character of Katharina, the shrew, and whether she was tamed, liberated, or just a good enough actress to … Bianca’s father, Baptista, has two daughters. Induction. Although she is resistant to Petruccio's advances, he will not be deterred and fixes their wedding day. The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself. Thank you for your support to help care for the world's greatest Shakespeare heritage and keep his story alive. The Taming of the Shrew: Kate’s soliloquy Kate’s soliloquy bring about a joyous conclusion to The Taming of the Shrew. Two local men, Hortensio and the elderly Gremio, are pursuing Bianca but she doesn’t like either of them so they have to resort to a range of tactics to try and further their interest. Petruccio tests Kate's obedience, asking her to say that the sun is the moon and that an old man is a beautiful young woman. Lucentio then tells Bianca his true feelings through a fake Latin translation. The student Lucentio arrives in Padua to further his studies. This list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in alphabetical order. Lucentio, a young man from Pisa, falls in love with Bianca and because she can’t marry, they elope. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and disobedient, making her an unfit choice for marriage by most of the men at the time. Tranio has coached the Mantuan merchant and has told Baptista Minola to expect a visit from Vincentio soon. by Cole Porter. Katherine is ‘tamed’ by her husband as though she were a wild animal. The Taming of the Shrew – Children’s Summary. Bianca already has two suitors, Gremio and Hortensio, although she cares for neither. type ‘no fear shakespeare’ into google. he enjoys the easy life, surviving off the dowry he received from Baptista and spends most of his spare time drinking. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. It is midday, yet Petruchio notes the moon shines brightly. The audience leaves the theatre with a pleasant feeling, glad that such a shrew could be tamed so well. The Taming of the Shrew begins with an induction, a pair of introductory scenes outside the main action of the play. The Taming of the Shrew ; Taming of the Shrew Short Summary; Taming of the Shrew Short Summary. It's the story of a strong-minded woman, Katharina, who yields to an equally stubborn man. He accepts Petruchio’s offer of marriage and although Kate opposes it, she cannot do anything about a father’s right to marry his daughter off. Petruccio finally arrives late, dressed in outlandish clothes, and he causes a scene. The larger framework involves a drunkard named Christopher Sly, who stumbles out of an inn and falls into a deep sleep. In Act 3, Scene 1 of The Taming of The Shrew, Lucentio and Hortensio, disguised as Bianca's teachers, are in Baptista's house. On reaching her new home, Katherine is mistreated by Petruccio and his servants and is refused food and rest. The Taming of the Shrew is a play within a play by Shakespeare. After the ceremony, he immediately leaves for Verona with his new wife. Petruchio is alarmingly cruel to Katherine. The lively comic plot and appealing characters make it an excellent introduction to Shakespeare. As usual in Shakespeare, the theme of appearance and reality is strongly expressed. Synopsis of The Taming of the Shrew L ucentio, a young man from Mantua, arrives in Padua to study at the city’s great university. The independent charity that cares for the world’s greatest Shakespeare heritage sites in Stratford-upon-Avon, and promotes the enjoyment and understanding of his works, life and times all over the world. Here we meet Christopher Sly, a tinker by trade and a drunk by avocation. The way women are treated and the effects of that is the main theme of the play. In the meantime Hortensio has given up on Bianca and married a widow. Hortensio does the same by inserting romantic words into shee… The story in Ten Scenes (2019) The activity can be found on pages 3-4 and takes approximately 30 minutes. © 2004 – 2020 No Sweat Digital Ltd. All rights reserved. Find out more. Lucentio and Bianca, having fallen in love, have run off and married secretly. The action is largely driven by people disguised to conceal their identities and achieve their goals, which are not always what they seem to be. Tranio coyly asks who will play the part of Lucentio, if Lucentio is the teacher.Lucentio tells Tranio to pretend to be him. The earliest record of … Taming of the Shrew Summary. Shakespeare is thought to have written The Taming of the Shrew between 1590 and 1594, although the only version that has survived is the one published in the First Folio in 1623. Taming of the Shrew Summary. Men and women are rude and cruel to each other. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and disobedient, making her an unfit choice for marriage by most of the men at the time. Gremio enters, having just come from the church where Katherine and Petruchio were wed. The three eventually reach Padua. Other scenes take place in Petruchio’s country house and on the road between there and Lucentio’s house. Lucentio hears that Baptista Minola is going to hire tutors for Bianca, and disguises himself as a Latin tutor in order to woo her. Taming of the Shrew Short Summary As the play by William Shakespeare begins, the reader encounters Christopher Sly, a drunkard being thrown from a tavern. Synopsis. Join our newsletter below and read them all, one at a time. Summary. At the same time, Petruccio, a young, confident man from Verona, arrives to visit Hortensio, his friend. Each one is to command his wife to come to him. T he Taming of the Shrew is a play by William Shakespeare in which the wealthy Molina sisters become embroiled in … Bianca’s father, Baptista, has two daughters. We will then have a look at a summary of Act 1, Scene 1. In this lesson, we will first look at a brief recap of Induction, Scene 2 of 'The Taming of The Shrew'. On a visit to Padua someone tells him about a shrewish woman in the city whose family is trying to marry her off so that her younger, beautiful, sweet-tempered, sister, Bianca, can be married. Bianca is sweet natured and beautiful but can’t marry until her older sister does. A lord comes across a drunken and comatose Christopher Sly, and conceives the idea of bringing him back to his house and treating him as a nobleman when he awakes, to see what happens. Bianca uses the same method to tell Lucentio she does not trust him. Read 19 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Taming of the Shrew opens with an Induction, or an explanatory scene. However, she does not hide the fact that she actually likes him. © 2020 Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Registered Charity Number 209302, Read the latest about our response to Covid-19 This is a way to kill a wife with kindness. Some scholars believe it may have been his first work written for the stage as well as his first comedy (Shakespearean 310). The noblemen give Sly a disguised young page as his supposed wife. When she leaves to fetch the authorities, Sly passes out. She continually quarrels with her sister and father. Hortensio poses as a musician to try and get into her company. Taming of the Shrew begins with a group of hunting nobleman tricking a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is a lord. Petruccio's aim is to 'tame' Katherine, while pretending to act out of a desire for her benefit. The eccentric Petruccio marries the reluctant Katherina and uses a number of tactics to render her an obedient wife. Lucentio loves Bianca but cannot court her until her shrewish older sister Katherina marries. This guide includes a brief overview, suggestions for teaching the play, and extended learning activities. SCENE 1 ... Summary Act 5. The play begins with an Induction, which establishes a frame for the main plot. The most famous adaptation was Kiss Me, Kate; McLintock! It’s funny, but Shakespeare is making a serious point. Historical Criticism of The Taming of the Shrew; The Taming of the Shrew Literary Criticism (Vol. Horns sound and a lord who has been hunting enters. Petruchio is a gentleman from Verona who agrees to marry Katherine because of her large dowry. Read more about The Taming Of The Shrew settings, Shakespeare, the theme of appearance and reality. The Taming of the Shrew book. The Taming of the Shrew. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. His younger daughter, Bianca, is sweet and quiet. The Taming of the Shrew, Act 3 Summary It is the day before Katherina and Petruccio’s wedding, and Bianca is caught in a tug of war between Lucentio and Hortensio, disguised as tutors, for her attention. The play Taming of the Shrew has been adapted for the stage, opera, screen, musical theater, and baller numerous times. In the play, The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare, there is a recurring theme of people hiding their real identity.First, there are cases of deception, such as Tranio pretending to be Lucentio, Lucentio pretending to be a Latin tutor, Hortensio pretending to be a music tutor. Outside an alehouse somewhere in the English countryside, a drunk beggar named Christopher Sly argues with the Hostess over some glassware he has broken in his inebriated clumsiness. In the English countryside, a poor tinker named Christopher Sly becomes the target of a prank by a local lord. Synopsis of The Taming of the Shrew L ucentio, a young man from Mantua, arrives in Padua to study at the city’s great university. The Taming of the Shrew | The Taming of the Shrew summary | The Taming of the Shrew characters | The Taming of the Shrew settings | The Taming of the Shrew quotes, The Taming of the Shrew cast on stage at the Barbican. Summary Act 3 SCENE 1 When Lucentio and Hortensio, who are respectively disguised as Cambio and Litio, argue as to who should be tutoring Bianca, Bianca objects, arguing that she is no schoolboy who should be forced to keep to a schedule and that she will learn when and with whom she pleases. Back in the real world, the visiting players leave. Katherine has no suitors because she is not conventionally attractive but more seriously, she is notoriously shrewish, and seems to hate men, which makes it difficult for any man to deal with her. He has heard, though, that Baptista will not allow Bianca to be married before her older sister, Katherina, a very forceful character who has a scornful attitude to men and expresses that without restraint. The Induction to The Taming of the Shrew is often omitted from film versions and even published discussions of the play. The most famous adaptation was Kiss Me, Kate; McLintock! The Taming of the Shrew is one of the earliest comedies written by sixteenth and seventeenth century English bard, William Shakespeare. Summary Induction. They all have a good time and as the men gather together after the meal Petruchio challenges Lucentio and Hortensio to a competition to see which of their wives is the most obedient. Christopher Sly is abandoned to sleep off his dream of the taming of a shrewish wife. They also find that Tranio, still dressed as Lucentio, has succeeded in convincing Baptista to let Lucentio marry Bianca. When Sly recovers, the men tell him that he is a lord and that he only believes himself to be a tinker because he has been insane for the … On arrival at his house, Petruchio mistreats her and instructs his servants to do the same. On the journey, the couple meet Vincentio, Lucentio's wealthy father. When the real Vincentio arrives and discovers a pedant posing as him and Tranio in his son's clothes, Lucentio is forced to confess to the whole plan. On the other hand, her younger sister Bianca was beautiful and much more agreeable. Taming of the Shrew opens with an Induction, or an explanatory scene. The play opens in front of a tavern in the English countryside, where Christopher Sly, a drunk beggar, goes toe-to-toe with the tavern hostess over Sly's disorderly conduct. He is recovered being dressed like a lord and convinced that he had been sleeping for close to 15 years. Eventually, worn down by her husband's behaviour, Katherina submits and agrees to all Petruccio's whims. Dowries and their size, and how much women are worth features strongly. The Taming of the Shrew Summary Introduction I: … This website turns any whole play, act or scene into modern English. 31) The Taming of the Shrew Literary Criticism (Vol. Written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1594, it's one of Shakespeare's earliest Comedies – it's also one of his most controversial works. Main characters in The Taming of the Shrew: The action revolves around Katherine (Kate), the daughter of Baptista and the older sister of Bianca. A short summary of Shakespeare's 1590-2 comedy play, The Taming of the Shrew with illustrations by Mya Gosling. When she leaves to fetch the authorities, Sly passes out. On a visit to Padua someone tells him about a shrewish woman in the city whose family is trying to marry her off so that her younger, beautiful, sweet-tempered, sister, Bianca, can be married. Helllpppp, i’m looking for petruchio’s characterteristics. He tells them about his new marriage to Bianca. He calls Petruchio "a devil, a devil, a very fiend," (iii.2.157). Taming of the Shrew Summary. Literature Network » William Shakespeare » Taming of the Shrew » Summary Act 3. As Act I opens, we meet Lucentio, a young man who has traveled to Padua from Florence. They play a trick on him when he wakes up by pretending that Sly is the lord and they are his servants. Petruchio is one of two central characters (along with Katherine) in Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew.. Petruchio is a wealthy young bachelor looking for an equally rich wife. The Taming of the Shrew: Synopsis & Plot Summary . Hortensio also disguises himself as a musician to obtain access to her. Literature Network » William Shakespeare » Taming of the Shrew » Summary Act 2. 'The Taming of the Shrew' is one of Shakespeare's most loved comedies! The Taming of the Shrew has been prone to adaptations since the 17th century. The story of The Taming of the Shrew itself really begins at this point. Date: Jul 27, 2019; Category: The Taming of the Shrew; Topic: The Taming of the Shrew Summaries; Page: 1; Words: 305; Downloads: 0 ; Disclaimer: This work has been donated by a student. The Taming of the Shrew is the story of how Petruchio, the money-grubbing wife hunter, transforms the aggressive and bad-tempered Katherine Minola into an obedient, honey-tongued trophy wife. The earliest record of … Please log in again. The pair exchange clothes, so that Tranio looks like a nobleman. A noble lord passing by finds him and decides to play a joke on him. While all this is going on Petruchio, a young friend of Hortensio from Verona, pays a visit to his friend and hears the story about the feisty Kate. He is recovered being dressed like a lord and convinced that he had been sleeping for close to 15 years. A pedant (school teacher) has posed as Vincentio, Lucentio's father, to give his blessing to the match. The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The Taming of the Shrew book. It is midday, yet Petruchio notes the moon shines brightly. petruchio is a well trained man in taming any kind of woman. Synopsis. Katherina (Kate) is the eldest daughter of Baptista Minola of Padua. While everyone prepares for the wedding, the disguised tutors Hortensio and Lucentio compete for Bianca's affections. Horns sound and a lord who has been hunting enters. They entertain him at their house with a play by a group of travelling actors, which is as follows. The Taming of the Shrew Summary. My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break. The nobleman then has the play performed for Sly's diversion. Here is a brief plot summary of The Taming of the Shrew: A wealthy Padua merchant, Baptista, has two daughters. She is not allowed new clothes or any luxury. Over two million Shakespeare Shorts sold!