A C T A U N I V E R S I T A T I S L 0 0 Z I E N S 1 S Ю Н А L I T T E R A R I A 29, 19 90 _ __ ___ __ _ K r y s t y n a K u j a w i ń s k a - C o u r t n e y X. S H A K E S P E A R E ’S " T H E T A M I N G OF TH E S H R E W " A S A P L A Y OF M A N I P U L A T I O N D e s p i t e a l l t h e c o n t r o v e r s i e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e з о и г с е d e p e n -d e n c i e s b e t w e e n an e n o n y m o u s p l a y "A P l e a s a n t C o n c e i t e d H i s t o r y C a l l e d Th e T a m i n g of A S h r e w " ( 1 5 9 4 ) a n d S h a k e s p e a r e ’s " T h e T a m i n g of th e S h r e w " ( p u b l i s h e d fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e in t h e F i r s t F o l i o - 1 6 2 3 ) t h e r e h a s n e v e r b e e n a n y d o u b t t h a t in g e n e r a l th e 1 2 p l a y s s r e v e r y s i m i l a r . In b o t h t h e p l a y s w e h a v e an a g e - o l d m o t i v e of a d r u n k a r d w h o w h i l e s l e e p i n g is t r a n s p o r t e d to a l i f e of l u x u r y by a l o r d a n d in b o t h c a s e s h i s a d v e n t u r e p r o -v i d e s a n e x c u s e f o r t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f f a p l a y e r s ’ p l a y c o n -s t i t u t i n g th e b u l k of t h e r e s p e c t i v e w o r k s . "A S h r e w " a n d " T h e S h r e w " s e e m to s h a r e t h e n t h e s a m e p l a y w i t h i n t h e p l a y s t r u c -t u r e w h i c h w a s e s p e c i a l l y p o p u l a r in -the 1 5 8 0 ’s a n d e a r l y 1 5 9 0 ’s in the E n g l i s h t h e a t r e w h e n it w a s " o n e w a y of e x p l o r i n g t h e n e w s e l f s u f f i c i e n c y of a s t a g e w o r l d w h i c h h a d o n l y r e ce n t ly b e -c o m e e n t i r e l y s e c u l a r a n d n e e d e d to r e d i f i n e i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p Se e : " T h e A r d e n E d i t i o n of S h a k e s p e a r e - T h e T a m i n g of t he S h r e w , ed . 0. M o r r i s , L o n d o n 19 61 . T h e T a m i n g of A S h r e w in a p p e n d i x I, p. 3 0 3 - 3 0 5 A l l th e r e f e r e n c e s to th e t e x t s of the p l a y s w i l l be t o t h i s e d i t i o n . 2 Se e: G. Q u i l o u g h , T h e N a r r a t i v e a n d Oraitat ic З о и г с е з of S h a k e s p e a r e , L o n d o n 19 64 , vo l. I, p. 1 0 0 - 1 2 4 . It is i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e h e r e t h a t v i a S h a k e s p e a r e ’s " T h e T a m i n g of th e S h r e w " w e a l s o h a v e P o l i s h v e r s i o n s of t h e s a m e s t o r y : a c o r n i v a l c o m e d y " P e a s a n t i n t o K i n g " ( " Z c h ł o p a k r ó l " ) b y P i o t r B a i у к а ( 1 6 4 0 ) a n d "M r J o v i a l " ( " P a n J o w i a l s k i " ) by A l e x a n d e r F r e d r o ( 1 8 3 2 ) .
w it h »n a u d ie n c e co mi n g to the t hea tre now less for instruction than d e l i g h t " 3 .
He re h o w ev e r the p r o b l e m begi ns, s i nc e the p l a y ~ w i t h i n ~ t h e play s t r u c t u r e is on ly fully re a l iz e d in "A Shrew" , w he re Sly af te r the In du c ti o n does not di s a pp e a r fr om the s ta ge but s i -m i l a r to the C i ti z en arid his wife of "The Kn ig ht of the B u rn i ng
Д
Pe s t le " , takes a lively inte rest in the p e r f o r m a n c e s t a g e d for him. He wa nts to see the fool again, is very m u c h against s e n d
-ing p e op l e to pr is o n and he likes the pl ay ao m uc h that the L o rd has to give h i m m o re drin k to ma k e hi m fall a s le e p when the end of the pl ay a p p r o a c h e s and he is to be take n back to the tavern. The pu r p o s e of the In du c ti o n wi th the r e f e r e n c e to the play is m ad e p e r f e c t l y c lear by S l y ’s r e t u r n i n g to the o pe n i n g s e tt i ng of the pl ay after the p l a y - w i t h i n - t h e pla y is over. Wh en he aw akes at dawn, he be l i e v e s that he has had "the be st dr ea me that ev er I had in my life" (s. xix). This e n d i n g s u gg es t s that the su cc e ss f u l s u b j ug a t i on of a wi fe by the will of her h u s b a n d he has just wa tc hed , h as b e en i m a g i n -ary. The re ali ty of S l y ’s s i t u at i on is hi s ow n s h r e w i s h wife a w a i t i n g hi m at ho me and thus lie s t a r t s off to try ou t on her the m e t h o ds he has just acquired!
[...] I k n o w now how to tame a shrew, I dre am t upon it all this ni ght till now, . . . but lie to my Wi fe p r e s e n t l y and tame her too
and if she anger me.
(s. xix)
Thus in "A Shrew" we ha ve à c ir c u l a r s t r u c t u r e of the play and are left w i th the feeling, that Sly will r e e n a c t the t a m -ing s c e n e s J . M o re ov er , S l y ’s re tu rn to real ity dr a w s a de f i n i t e
3 A. B a r t o n , The Ta mi ng of the Shrew: I n t ro du ct io n, [in:] The Ri v e r s i d e S ha ke sp e a re , ed. G. Blakeinore Evans, Bo st on 1974, p. 108.
4 F. B e a u m o n t , The Kn ig ht of the B u r n i n g Pestle, ed. M. Hatt aw ay, L on d on 1969,
’ This pe r h a p s explains, why in I. N u n n ’s p r o d u c t i o n for the Royal Sh a k e s p e a r e C o mp a ny (1967) the same ac tor wa s u s e d for the ro les of Sly and P e t r u c h i o w h il e p r o d u c i n g "T he Ta m in g of the
b o r d e r b e t w e e n th e г в а1 a n d t h e i m a g i n a r y ; t he r e a l a p p l y i n g to S l y a n d the i m a g i n a r y to th e p l s y - w i t h i n - t h e p l a y . It l e a v e s us in no d o u b t th at the t a m i n g o f K a t h e r i n e , a n d i n d e e d t he w h o l e of th e p l a y e r s ’ p l a y s h o u l d n o t b e a c c e p t e d as r e a l i t y . The c l o s i n g s p e e c h of K a t h e r i n a is d i s t a n c e d by S l y ’s s c e n e a n d b e c a u s e of t h a t it l o s e s m u c h of it s i m p a c t . S h a k e s p e a r e ’s " T h e S h r e w " d o e s n o t f o l l o w th e s a m e pattern. The f i r s t a n d m o s t o b v i o u s d e v i a t i o n is i ts v o l u m e . A l t h o u g h a s in "A S h r e w " the I n d u c t i o n c o n s i s t s o f o n l y t w o s c e n e s S l y d o e s n o t r e t u r n at th e e n d of t h e p l a y e r s ’ p l a y . In fact, apart f r o m o n e i n t r u s i o n w h i c h he m a k e s at t h e e n d of s c e n e i a c t I h e d i s a p p e a r s f r o m th e p l a y a l t o g e t h e r . Al l k i n d s of e x p l a n a -t i o n s for -t h i s s t a t e of t h i n g s h a v e b e e n p r o p o s e d 6 , th e m o s t p o p u l a r b e i n g th at th e l a st p a g e of th e m a n u s c r i p t in w h ic h S l y r e t u r n e d w a s s o m e h o w l o st , t h at p e r h a p s S h a k e s p e a r e f o r g o t a~ b o u t h i s o p e n i n g c h a r a c t e r a n d s e t t i n g w h e n b e f i n i s h e d th e p l a y , or t h at h i s s c e n e w a s l e f t to th e i m p r o v i s a t i o n of t h e a c t o r s a n d w a s n e v e r w r i t t e n . I n d e e d s o m e d i r e c t o r s h a v e f el t g o s t r o n g l y a b o u t th is , a p p a r e n t l a c k of c o n c l u s i o n t o the p l a y th at t h ey h a v e s u p p l i e d an e x t r a s c e n e , d r a w n f r o m t h e a n o n y -m o u s "A S h r e w " 7 . D e s p i t e al l th e c a r e f u l l y w o r k e d o u t s u p p o s i t i o n s c o n c e r n -i ng th e e n d -i n g of S h a k e s p e a r e ’s " T h e S h r e w " th e f a c t r e m a i n s th at t h e p l a y h a s b e e n l e f t to us in it s p r e s e n t f o r m a n d H e - m i n g e a n d C o n d e l l d i d n o t se e a n y t h i n g w r o n g or u n u s u a l in it w h i l e p r e p a r i n g its f i r s t e d i t i o n . H. G. G o d d a r d ’s o p i n i o n that S h a k e s p e a r e s a w h i s c h a n c e for a s l y e r a n d p r o f o u n d e r r e l a t i o n -s h i p b e t w e e n t h e I n d u c t i o n a n d t he p l a y e r s ’ p l a y t h a n it is В . u s u a l l y s u p p o s e d , is q u i t e p l a u s i b l e . f a k i n g t h a t S h a k e s p e a r e ' s p l a y h a s n o m i s s i n g s c e n e s t h e S h r e w " w i t h th e a d d i t i o n of th e s c e n e s f r o m " T h e T a m i n g of A S h r e w " . 6 Th e A r d e n S h a k e s p e a r e - Th e l a m i n g of th e S h r e w , p. 1 2 - 5 0 . •j A. L e g g a t t, S h a k e s p e a r e ’s C o m e d y of L o v e , L o n d o n 19 74 , p. 4?. H. C. G о d d a r d, T he M e a n i n g of S h a k e s p e a r e , C h i c a -g o 19 5 1, p. 73.
q u e s t i o n a r i s e s of w h a t h e w a s h o p i n g to a c h i e v e ; w h y h e d e -c i d e d a g a i n s t the c o n v e n t i o n a l e n d i n g a n d c r e a t e d in f a c t a t w o - p a r t p la y . The o b v i o u s c o n c l u s i o n is t h a t t he l a c k of a s c e n e r e t u r n i n g S ly to t h e a l e h o u s e is a l s o a l a c k of r e t u r n to r e a l i t y . T hi s t h r o w s ari a m b i g u o u s li g h t o n th e s t a t e s of r e a -l i ty a n d t he s u p p o s e d l y l e s s r e a l s c e n e s of the p l a y . The d i s -t a n c i n g b e -t w e e n K a -t h e r i n e in h e r f in a l s p e e c h a n d the a u d i e n c e b e c o m e s m i n i m a l i z e d by th e o m i s s i o n of s u c h a s c e n e a n d the e n -t i re a c -t i o n of -th e p l a y is b r o u g h t c l o s e t to us. Th e s u s p e n s i o n of d i s b e l i e f is f u l l y e n f o r c e d a n d n ot n e g a t e d b y S l y as s o o n as it h a s b e c o m e e f f e c t i v e a n d p e r m i t t e d t h e p l a y e r s ’ p l a y to m a k e it s p o i n t . The u n c e r t a i n t y as to w h a t is r e a l a n d u n r e a l in th e p l a y is b r o u g h t a b o u t in t he f i r s t p l a c e by t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e s e tw o n o t i o n s . Th e e p i s o d e s t h a t w o u l d b e . c o n s i d e r e d as r e al i.e. th e m a i n t a m i n g p l o t of K a t h e r i n e a n d t h e s u b - p l o t of B i a n c a , o c c u p y the m a j o r i t y of t h e p l a y (12 s c e n e s ) an d they c o n s t i t u t e th e fo ca l p o i n t of c o n c e n t r a t i o n . W h i l e Sl y, b e i n g t h e fo ca l p o i n t for a r e l a t i v e l y b r i e f t i m e a n d o n l y at the b e g i n n i n g o f th e p l a y , m a k e s it q u i t e p o s s i b l e f o r t h e a u d i -e n c -e 9 to f o r g -e t t h a t th-e K a t h -e r i n -e p l o t 1з, in f a c t , a p l a y e r s ’ p l a y a n d d i s p e n s i n g w i t h h im , t h e r e is a s u g g e s t i o n thć.t t he r e a l i t y w h i c h h e r e p r e s e n t s is a l s o d i s p e n s e d w i t h . The e n d of S h a k e s p e a r e ’s I n d u c t i o n l e a v e s S l y e l e v a t e d , if n o t a c t u a l l y to t h e p o s i t i o n of the l o r d , at l e a s t to a l i f e - - s t y l e w h i c h c a n b e c o m p a r e d to t h a t of th e lo rd . We h a v e r e a l -ly n o c h o i c e b u t a c c e p t t h i s e nd , a s t h i n k i n g p a s t th e e n d of t he p l a y to w h a t m i g h t h a p p e n a n d w h a t m i g h t b e th e o u t c o m e , w o u l d b e n o m o r e o r l e ss r i d i c u l o u s t h a n t r y i n g to e s t a b l i s h h o w m a n y c h i l d r e n L a d y M a c b e t h h a d ^ . N o t o n l y m u s t w e a c c e p t 9 T h i s p r o b a b l y h a p p e n s m o r e o f t e n to t h e a t r e - g o e r s th an to r e a d e r s of the p l a y , as t he l a t t e r h a v e m o r e t i m e to c o n -s i d e r t h e n a t u r e of S l y ’-s r ol e . The B & C 2 p r o d u c t i o n of "T h e T a m i n g of t he S h r e w " b y 0. M i l l e r ( s h o w n on th e P o l i s h TV * in 1 9 8 6 ) c u t th e w h o l e S l y e p i s o d e a n d t h i s m a y h a v e b e e n b e c a u s e h e f e l t th at if t he e p i s o d e w a s n o t i m p o r t a n t , or if w e w e r e l i k e l y to f o r g e t a b o u t it d u r i n g t he a c t i o n , it m i g h t as w e l l n o t be i n c l u d e d . 10 Se e: L. C. K n i g h t s , H o w M a n y C h i l d r e n H a d L a d y M a c
-a n e l e v -a t e d S ly, b u t a l s o a t a m e d K a t h e r i n a , a n a l m o s t s h r e w i s h B i a n c a a n d a v i c t o r i o u s P e t r u c h i o , a n d all t h o s e s t a t e s a r e e s -t a b l i s h e d in a p l a y t h a t h a s d e p i c t e d c h a r a c t e r s c h a n g i n g r o l e s t h r o u g h t o u t its a c t i o n . Th i s r o l e s w i t c h i n g e x a g g e r a t e s t h e u n -r e a l a s p e c t s of th e p l a y e -r s ’ p l a y , a n d in d o i n g so, m a k e s th e m o r e r e e l a n d g r a d u a l c h a n g e o f K a t h e r i n a m o r e a c c e p t a b l e b y c o m p a r i s o n . S l y * s e l e v a t i o n is b r o u g h t a b o u t by t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n in h i s l i f e by th e L o r d a n d the d i r e c t m a n i p u l a t i o n of h i s e n -v i r o n m e n t a n d s o c i a l p o s i t i o n . In h i s c a s e , as A. L e g g a t t o b -se rv e s, " t h e n e w l i f e is a c c e p t e d as t r u t h , a n d h e m o v e s i n t o it w i t h s o m e d i f f i c u l t y , b u t w i t h i n c r e a s i n g c o n f i d e n c e . M o r e -o v e r in th e p l a y , as w e h a v e it, w e n e v e r з е е h i m d i s i l l u s i o n -ed. H i s a c c e p t a n c e of h i s n e w r o l e s e t o f f a c h a i n r e a c t i o n th at r u n s t h r o u g h t he r e s t of the p l a y , as n e w e x p e r i e n c e s a r e o p e n e d o u t for th e c h a r a c t e r s a n d fo r t h e a u d i e n c e " * * , K a t h e r i n a , too, is a c h a n g e d p e r s o n , s u b s e r v i e n t to P e t r u -c h i o , a n d p r e p a r e d to p l a y t h e r o l e of t h e i d e a l w i f e . H e r c h a n g e h a s b e e n b r o u g h t a b o u t by h e r " l o r d " P e t r u c h i o , w h o also m a n i p u l a t e d h e r e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d l i f e - s t y l e . " T h e S h r e w " t h e n d e a l s w i t h a k i n d o f m e t a m o r p h o s i s f o r b o t h S l y a n d Ka the r in a , b r o u g h t a b o u t b y t he e x t e r n a l m a n i p u l a t i o n m o v i n g t h e m f r o m o n e r e a l i t y to a n o t h e r , p e r m a n e n t l y . It s e e m s t o b e m o r e t h a n c o -i n c -i d e n c e t h a t in th e I n d u c t i o n th e L o r d w h i l e c o n v i n c i n g S l y of h i s p r e s e n t w e a l t h a n d s t a t u s d r a w s h i s a t t e n t i o n t o th e 12 p a i n t i n g s p r e s e n t i n g the m e t a m o r p h o s e s of g o d s a n d m e n S e c . S e r v . : " D o s t t h o u l o v e p i c t u r e s ? W e w i l l f e t c h t h e e s t r a i g h t A d o n i s p a i n t e d by 3 r u n n i n g b r o o k , A n d C y t h e r e a a l l i n s e d g e s h i d , W h i c h s e e m to m o v e a n d w a n t o n w i t h h e r b r e a t h E v e n as t h e w a v i n g s e d g e s p l a y w i t h w i n d , b e t h , liri:] E x p l o r a t i o n s ; E s s a y s in C r i t i c i s m M a i n l y o n th e L i t e r a t u r e of th e S e v e n t e e n t h C e n t u r y , L o n d o n 1 9 6 4 , p. 13 - 5 0 . 11 L e g g a t t, op. c i t . , p. 42. 12 P. S w i n d e n, A n I n t r o d u c t i o n to S h a k e s p e a r e ’s C o -m e d i e s , L o n d o n 1 97 9 , p. 1 3- 5 0.
L o r d : W ’H s h o w t h e e Io as s h e w a s a m a i d , A n d h o w s h e w a s b e g u i l e d arid s u r p r i s ' d , As l i v e l y p a i n t e d as th e d e e d w a s do n e " . (Ind . ii, 5 0 - 5 7 ) The s t r u c t u r e of " T h e S h r e w ” as it is no w , w i t h o u t the r e t u r n of Sly, s u g g e s t s t h at s u c h m e t a m o r p h o s e s a r e p o s s i b l e in r e a l i t y , t h r o u g h m a n i p u l a t i o n , a n d i n d e e d t h e y ar e, as the w h o l e p l a y is a m a n i p u l a t i o n of a c t o r s a n d a u d i e n c e by S h a k e s -p e a r e . A. R i g h t e r ’s o b s e r v a t i o n th at in E l i z a b e t h a n t i m e s " m e n w h o w a t c h e d a d r a m a t i c p e r f o r m a n c e of a n y k i n d , o r ponderer! a C l a s s i c a l c o m e d y in m a n u s c r i p t , s e e m to h a v e b e e n t e m p t e d to e q u a t e the r ea l w o r l d w i t h the i m a g i n a r y k i n g d o m of the stage, to d e s c r i b e M a n as an a c t o r a n d a s s i g n e i t h e r to F a t e or to G o d H i m s e l f t he d o u b l e p o s i t i o n of d i a m a t i s t a n d a u d i e n c e " 13 is in f a c t w i t h th e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y m o d i f i c a t i o n s ' v a l i d to da y. Th e d i c h o t o m y of r e al a n d u n r e a l is f u z z y t h r o u g h o u t the p l a y . S l y w a k i n g in the L o r d ’s c a s t l e is u n s u r e o f w h a t is a d r e a m a n d w h a t is r e a l i t y : Or d o I d r e a m ? Or h a v e I d r e a m * d till n o w ? (Ind . ti, 70)
We, the a u d i e n c e , arid th e L o r d ’s m e n feel s u p e r i o r in our k n o w -l e d g e of S -l y ’s p o s i t i o n in t he L o r d ' s h e c s e h o l d . T h i s s u r e l y m u s t h a v e a l s o h a p p e n e d in S h a k e s p e a r e ' s ti m e s , b u t th e i d e n -t i -t y a n d -th e n a -t u r e of S l y ’s s u p p o s e d w i f e w e r e u n k n o w n to the a u d i e n c e b e c a u s e in an E l i z a b e t h a n p r o d u c t i o n a l l t h e f e m a l e 14 p a r t s w e r e p l a y e d by b o y s , a n d t h u s the a u d i e n c e e q ua l ly w a r e g u l l e d w h i l e s u s p e n d i n g t h e i r b e l i e f a n d t h e y w e r e n o t s u -p e r i o r to S l y in t h e i r p e r c e p t i o n of t h e s i t u a t i o n h e is p r e -s e n t e d wi tli. S c e n e V a c t Iv w h e n P e t r u c h i o a n d K a t h e r i n e a r e o n t h e i r w a y to P a d u a p r e s e n t s th e s a m e them., w h i c h c o n t i n u e s th e e x
-A. R i g h t e r, S h a k e s p e a r e arid the Id e a of the Play, L o n d o n 1962 , p. 65..
4 A. ii u r r, ihe S h a k e s p e a r e a n S t a q e , 1 5 7 4 1 6 4 2 , Ca m br id -ge 1 9 & 0 , p. 7 8 - 1 1 2 .
p l o r a t i o n of t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the r e a l a n d t h e i m a g i n -a ry . Ihei r m e e t i n g w i t h V i n c e n t i o b r i n g s b a c k the q u e s t i o n s ot s e x u a l i d e n t i t y . P e t r u c h i o i n s i s t s t h a t V i n c e n t i o is a la i r g e n t l e w o m a n a n d K a t h e r i n a a g r e e s in a w a y t h a t s u g g e s t s it m a t t e r s n o t w h a t h e is ( 3 6 - 4 0 ; 4 4 - 4 7 ) . R e m e m b e r i n g t h a t in the E l i z a b e t h a n t h e a t r e m a l e a c t o r s p l a y e d f e m a l e p a r t s S h a k e s p e a -re b y s u c h t r e a t m e n t of i d e n t i t y of t h e s e x e s d r a w s o u r a t t e n -t i o n -to -t h e f a c -t t h a t e v e r y t h i n g in t h e t h e a t r e if fa r f r o m b e i n g f i x e d , as t h e r o l e - s w i t c h i n g i n " T h e S h r e w " d e m o n s t r a t e s . In th e s a m e s c e n e P e t r u c h i o i n s i s t s t h a t it is th e m o o n w h i c h s h i n e s w h i l e it is th e sun. In s y m b o l i c t e r m s t h e M o o n s t a n d s f o r the i m a g i n a r y , d r e a m s , i n t o x i c a t i o n , i l l u s i o n a n d t he f e m a l e 1 5 . T h e S u n is the s y m b o l of r e a l i t y , p e r c e p t i v i t y a n d m a s c u l i n e p r i n c i p l e 1 6 . K a t h e r i n a , h a v i n g l e a r n t t h e r u l e s o f h e r h u s b a n d ’s g a m e a n d c r e a t i n g h e r o w n r o l e of a n o b e d i e n t w i f e 1 7 , a c c e p t s t he i m a g i n a r y ( t h e m o o n ) f or th e r e al ( t h e s u n ) , a n d In d o i n g s o s h e is e v e n t u a l l y a b l e to a g r e e w i t h P e -t r u c h i o o n t h e r e a l ( t h e s u n ) - 12-15; 16; 18-22. T h e r e m u s t be s o m e s i g n i f i c a n c e in t h e f a c t t h a t t h e m a l e - f e m a l e a m b i g u i t y c o m b i n e d w i t h th e r e a l - u n r e a l a m b i g u i t y c o n s t i t u t e t he p i v o t a l i u p o i n t in K a t h e r i n a ’s t a m i n g . M o r e o v e r , s e e i n g t h i s s c e n e in t h e c o n t e x t of the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n th e I n d u c t i o n a n d t h e p l a y e r s ’ p l a y , p e r h a p s , it is p o s s i b l e to s u g y e s t t h a t the a p p l i c a t i o n of the i m a g i n a r y to t h e r e a l , c a n b r i n g a b o u t a n e w p e r c e p t i o n of t h e re al . In " T h e S h r e w " S h a k e s p e a r e is p o r t r a y i n g an i m a g e of th e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e S p e c t a c t o r a n d th e p l a y . I. N. G r e e n -f i e l d w h i l e a n a l y z i n g t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p v e r y r i g h t l y s a y s t h a t 15 A D i c t i o n a r y of S y m b o l s , ed. J. E. С i r I о t, L o n -d o n 1 96 2 , p. 2 1 4 - 2 1 7 . 16 I b i d e m , p. 3 1 7 - 3 2 0 . 17 J. R, 8 r o w n, S h a k e s p e a r e a n d H i s C o m e d i e s , L o n d o n 1 96 8 , p. 98. 10 T . N. G r e e n f i e 1 d, The T r a n s f o r m a t i o n of C h r i -s t o p h e r Sl y, " T h e ' P h i l o l o g i c a l Q u a r t e r l y " 19 5 4 , No. 33. T h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p s e e m e d tu h a u n t S h a k e s p e a r e a s tie o f t e n c o n s c i o u s -ly r e f l e c t e d o n h i s o w n a r t n a t c r irt h i s c a r e e r e . g . " A M i d -s u m m e r N i g h t ’-s D r e a m " .
S h a k e s p e a r e b r i n g s h i s I n d u c t i o n i n to o r g a n i c a l l y r e l a t e d c o n -d i t i o n w i t h the m a i n p l a y , w h i l e the c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n th e l i -t e r a l w o r l d of S l y a n d th e w o r l d of d r a m a t i c p o e t r y а е е ш з to be 19 e m p h a t i c a n d m e a n i n g f u l M a n i p u l a t i o n a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of t h e c h a r a c t e r s a r e p r e -s e n t b o t h in t h e I n d u c t i o n a n d th e p l a y e r s ’ p l a y . S l y is m a -n i p u l a t e d by t he L o r d , r e m o v e d f r o m o n e s c e n e a n d a w a k e s in a n o t h e r w h i c h is w h o l l y s t a g e - m a n a g e d by th e L o r d . W h a t t h i n k y o u, if h e w e r e c o n v e y e d to b ed , W r a p p ’d in s w e e t c l o t h e s , r i n g s p u t u p o n h i a f i n g e r s , A m o s t d e l i c i o u s b a n q u e t b y h i s be d, A n d b r a v e a t t e n d a n t s n e a r h i m w h e n h e w a k e s , C a r r y h i m g e n t l y to m y f a i r e s t c h a m b e r , A n d h a n g it r o u n d w i t h ai l my w a n t o n p i c t u r e s . B a l m h i s f o u l h e a d in w a r m d i s t i l l e d w a t e r s , A n d b u r n s w e e t w o o d to m a k e the l o d g i n g s w e e t . P r o c u r e m e m u s i c r e a d y w h e n he w a k e s , To m a k e a d u l c e t a nd a h e a v e n l y s o u n d . ( I n d . 1 , 3 5 - 3 8 : 4 4 - 4 9 ) T h e L o r d a l s o g i v e s d i r e c t i o n s h o w th e s e r v a n t s s h o u l d a c t , a n d p r o v i d e s th e s t o r y to c o n v i n c e S l y t h a t h e is n o w w i t h i n tha r e a l m s of r e a l i t y ( 5 0 - 6 6 ) . T he L o r d t h e n а э з и т е з th e r o l e s of s t a g e - m a n a g e r , d i r e c t o r , a c t o r a n d t h e a u t h o r of the p l a y . F i n d i n g h i m s e l f in t hi s n e w e n v i r o n m e n t S l y d o e s not k n o w h o w to b e h a v e a n d h e in t u r n r e c e i v e s t u i t i o n in the w a y he m u s t a c t f r o m the L o r d ’s s e r v a n t s . W h e n we m e e t S l y fo r th e f i r s t time h e is a m a n w h o d o e s n o t w a n t to a c c e p t h i s p l a c e In r e a l i t y . He h a s e x a l t e d i d e a s a b o u t h i m s e l f a n d is a l m o s t p a t h e t i c in t r y i n g to i m p r e s s the H o s t e e s w i t h h i s a n c e s t r y w h i c h h e c o n n e c t s w i t h th e u n r e a l " R i c h a r d C o n q u e r o r " (I n d . i). T h u s , h e a s p i r e s to a b e t t e r l i fe h e l e a d s a n d o n c e the o p p o r t u n i t y is g i v e n h e i n s o u c i a n t l y a d j u s t s h i m s e l f to h i s n e w i d e n t i t y a n d th e t r e a t m e n t h e r e -c e i v e s , by b e c o m i n g a p a r t of t h is s u r r o u n d i n g s . He e v e n t r i e s to c h a n g e h i s wa y of s p e a k i n g by s l i p p i n g i n t o v e r s e with s o m e 1 9 S. C. S e n G u p t a , S h a k e s p e a r i a n C o m e d y , O x f o r d 1977,
20 a t t e m p t a t d i g n i t y . H e w a n t s to do n o t h i n g t h a t w i l l s e n d h i m b a c k to t h e l i f e he k n e w , a n d e v e n a g r e e s to f o r g e t a b o u t b e d d i n g h i s n e w l y a c q u i r e d w i f e b e c a u s e of t h e d a n g e r of such a r e l a p s e : [...] B ut I w o u l d b e l o a t h to fall i n t o my d r e a m s a g a i n . I w i l l t h e r e f o r e t a r r y In d e s p i t e of the f l e s h a n d t h e b l o o d . ( I n d . i l , 1 2 6 - 1 2 0 ) F r o m t he o u t s e t w e a r e a w a r e t ha t K a t h e r i n a is a l s o d i s s a -t i s f i e d w i -t h h e r l o -t. H e r y o u n g e r s i s t e r B i a n c a a p p e a r s to be h e r f a t h e r ’s f a v o u r i t e as h i s c o m m e n t s o n h e r e n d c o n v e r s a -t i o n s w i -t h h e r a r e a ll In a p o s i t i v e ve i n , w h e r e a s h i s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s K a t h e r i n a is g e n e r a l l y n e g a t i v e or i n d i f f e r e n t ( I , i ) . W e s h o u l d h o w e v e r r e m e m b e r t h a t a l t h o u g h S h a k e s p e a r e is c a r e f u l to m a k e it c l e a r t h a t K a t h e r i n a h a s g o o d r e a s o n s to p r o t e s t a g a i n s t h e r f a t h e r ’s a n d s i s t e r ’s t r e a t m e n t of her. S h e is a s t u b b o r n a n d u n s u b m i s s i v e w o m a n w h o t r i e s to a s s e r t h e r o w n w i l l q u i t e o v e r t l y . S h e , for e x a m p l e , o b j e c t s t o b e i n g t r e a t e d as p a r t of B i a n c a ’s w e d d i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s : "I p r a y y ou , s i r, is it y o u r w i l l to m a k e m e s t a l e a m o n g s t t h e s e m a t e s ? ( I , i , 57 - - 5 8 ) a n d m a k e s h e r f a t h e r a g r e e t h a t w h o e v e r m a r r i e s h e r m u s t b e a c c e p t e d b y h e r ( I I , i , 1 2 7 - 1 2 8 ) . 8y t h e E l i z a b e t h a n s t a n -21 d a r d s sh e is r e a l l y " i n t o l e r a b l e c u r s t , a n d s h r e w d , a n d f r o w a r d " ( I , i i , B 7 - 0 8 ) . It c a n n o t b e c o i n c i d e n t a l t h a t K a t h e r i n a ( l i k e th e d r u n k e n S l y by th e L o r d ) is c o m p a r e d by P e t r u c h i o to a n a n i m a l . H e s a y s " T h u s h a v e I p o l i t i c l y b e g u n m y r e i g n , A n d ’t l s m y h o p e to e n d s u c c e s s f u l l y . M y f a l c o n n o w is s h a r p a n d p a s s i n g e m p t y , A n d ti l l s h e s t o o p s h e m u s t n o t b e f u l l - g o r g ’d, F o r t h e n s h e n e v e r l o o k s u p o n h e r lure. A n o t h e r w a y I h a v e to m a n m y h a g g a r d , 20 В. V i с к e r s, Th e A r t i s t r y of S h e k e s p e a r e ’s P r o s e , L o n d o n 1 9 6 8 , p. 1 3 - 1 4 . 21 L. J a r d i n e , S t i l l H a r p i n g o n D a u g h t e r s : W o m e n p n d O r a m a in th e A g e of S h a k e s p e a r e , B r i g h t o n 1 9 8 3 , p. 1 0 3 --14 Ü.
la m a k e h e r c o m e arid k n o w h e r k e e p e r ’s c a l l , T h a t is, to w a t c h h e r , as we w a t c h t h e s e k i t e s That b a t e a n d b e a t a n d w i l l no t be o b e d i e n t . (IV, 1 , 1 7 5 - 1 8 3 ) T h e m a i n a i m of P e t r u c h i o ’s t a m i n g of K a t h e r i n a is to g i v e h e r an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of h e r n a t u r e a n d p o s i t i o n in s o c i e t y , as a w o m a n a n d w i f e, w h i c h s h e p r e a c h e s at t h e e n d of t h e p l a y : Th y h u s b a n d is thy l o r d , thy li fe , th y k e e p e r , T hy h e a d , th y s o v e r e i g n ; o n e t ha t c a r e s fo r thee , S u c h d u t y a s th e s u b j e c t o w e s th e p r i n c e E v e n s u c h a w o m a n o w e t h tu h e r h u s b a n d . I a m a s h a m ’d t h a t w o m e n a r e so s i m p l e To o f f e r w a r w h e r e th e y s h o u l d k n e e l fo r p e a c e , O r s e e k for r u l e , s u p r e m a c y , a n d sw ay , W h e n t h e y a r e b o u n d to s e r v e , l o v e a n d o b ey . T h e n v a i l y o u r s t o m a c h s , fo r it is n o b o o t , A n d p l a c e y o u r h a n d s b e l o w y o u r h u s b a n d ' s foot . ( V , l i , 1 4 7 - 1 4 8 , 1 5 6 - 1 5 7 , 1 6 2 - 1 6 5 , 1 7 7 - 1 7 8 ) R e s u m i n g th e i d ea t h a t e v e r y t h i n g is f l u i d in th e t h e a t r e w e do n o t k n o w whether K a t h e r i n e , xn fact a b o y a c t o r , w a s e x p r e s s -i n g h e r e h e r o w n n e w l y a q u i r e d p o i n t of v i e w o r w h e t h e r she w a s a c t i n g as a m o u t h p i e c e f o r P e t r u c h i o o r e v e n S h a k e s p e a r e - m a n 22 h i m s e l f . It is h o w e v e r i m p o r t a n t to r e m e m b e r t h a t a l t h o u g h o u r m o d e r n s e n s i b i l i t y m a y be o f f e n d e d o r e v e n d i s g u s t e d by h e r s p e e c h , In S h a k e s p e a r e ’s t i m e s it m i g h t b e t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e " c h a i n of b e i n g " , a h i e r a r c h y w h i c h d e s c e n d e d f r o m G o d t o i n a n i m a t e n a t u r e , a n d on t h i s l a d d e r a w i f e s t o o d o n e r u n g 23 l o w e r t h a n h e r h u s b a n d . Th e E l i z a b e t h a n C h u r c h e n f o r c e d t h i s by r e f e r r i n g to St. P a u l ’s l e t t e r to E p h e s i a n s : " W i v e s , s u b -ît is i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e h e r e t h a t e v e n the m o d e r n . d i -r e c t o -r s f o u n d it f a s c i n a t i n g to c a s t a m a n as K a t h e r i n a . Se e: S, f l e a u m a n , T h e R o y a l S h a k e s p e a r e •C o m p a n y : A H i s t o r y of T e n D e c a d e s , O x f o r d 19 8 2 , p. 189. 2 i E. M. W. T i 1 1 y a r d, The E l i z a b e t h a n W o r l d P i c t u r e , L o n d o n 19 7 8 , p. 3 3 -4 4,
m i t y o u r s e l v e s u n t o y o u r o w n h u s b a n d s , as u n t o t h e L o r d . F o r the h u s b a n d is th e h e a d of th e w i f e , e v e n as C h r i s t is the h e a d of th e C h u r c h ' 4 . T h e c o m m o n p e o p l e w e r e t h u s i n d o c t r i n a t e d w h i l e l i s t e n i n g to the H o m i l y " O f T he S t a t e o f M a t r i m o n i e ” ( 1 5 6 3 ) : " F o r t h e w o m a n is a w e a k e c r e a t u r e , n o t i n d u e d w i t h l i k e s t r e n g t h a n d c o n s t a n c y of m i n d e , t h e r e f o r e t h e y b e e the s o o n e r d i s q u i e t e d , a n d t h e y b e e t h e m o r e p r o n e to al l w e a k e a f f e c t i o n s a n d d i s p o s i t i o n s o f m i n d e , m o r e t h a n m e n b e e , a n d l i g h t e r t h e y b e e, a n d m o r e v a i n e in t h e i r f a n t i s i e s arid o p i - ?*> n i o n s ' . In t h i s m a t t e r as E. K. C h a m b e r s o b s e r v e s : " S h a k e -s p e a r e i-s i n -s t i n c t w i t h t he -s p i r i t of h i -s a g e, a n d v i t a l l a r g e -ly Ь е с а и з е he is i n s t i n c t w i t h it; an d , w i t h o u t th e h i s t o r i c s e n s e , h i s e t h i c a l s t a n d p o i n t is in m a n y r e s p e c t s i n c o m p r e h e n -26 s i b l e to t h o s e w h o c o m e a f t e r h i m" P e t r u c h i o ’s m o t i v e s for t a m i n g K a t h e r i n a h a v e a l s o b e e n 27 m i s u n d e r s t o o d . By m o d e r n s t a n d a r d s h e is r e g a r d e d as an a g -g r e s i v e m a l e w h o by m a r r y i n g K a t h e r i n a fo r h e r m o n e y b u l l i e s ? R h e r i n t o to ta l s u b m i s s i o n . S h a k e s p e a r e ’s a u d i e n c e w o u l d n o t , h o w e v e r , h a v e s e e n a n y t h i n g s t r a n g e in h a r d - b a r g a i n i n g o v e r the d o w r y fo r at t h a t t i m e f i s c a l m a t t e r s w e r e i n s e p a r a b l e w i t h c o u r t s h i p s . U n d o u b t e d l y he w a n t s to " w i v e [...3 w e a l t h i l y in P a d u a " ( t , i i , 7 5 ) b u t h e is a l s o i n t r i g u e d by K a t h e r i n a ’s d i s - c r i p t i o n ( I , i i , 1 0 3 - 1 0 6 ) a n d e v e n t u a l l y h e t r e a t s h e r as a c h a l l e n g e to h i s o w n e x o t i c a n d u n s u b m i s s i v e n a t u r e ( I , i i , 19 7 - - 2 0 9 ) . S i m i l a r l y to th e L o r d in the I n d u c t i o n h e s t a g e - m a n a g e s h i s t r e a t m e n t of K a t h e r i n a ( I I ,ii , 1 6 9 - 1 8 0 ) . He a l s o s t a g e s his w e d d -i n g a n d p l a y s h -i s r o l e so c o n v i n c i n g l y t h a t n o t o n l y K a t h e r i n a 24 The A r d e n S h a k e s p e a r e - Th e T a m i n g of t he S h r e w , p. 146. 2b I b i d e m . f. K. C h a m b e r s , S h a k e s p e a r e : A S u r v e y , L o n d o n ’ 96 4, p. 40. 11 W. H a 7. z i i t , C h a r a c t e r s of S h a k e s p e a r e ’s P l a y s , O x -f o r d 19 6 2, p. 24 7. 23 Th e A r d e n S h a k e s p e a r e - T h e T a m i n g of t h e S h r e w , p. 144. oü L. S t o n e , T h e ( F a m i l y , S e x a n d M a r r i a g e in E n g l a n d 1 5 0 0 - 1 8 0 0 , L o n d o n 1 9 79 , p. 3 7 - 5 1 .
o b e y s h i m b u t so do th e p r i e s t , h e r f a t h e r a n d all th e w e d d i n g g u e s t s ( I I I , i i i ) . In t a m i n g h i s w i f e he u s e s t w o c o m p l e m e n t a r y t e c h n i q u e s , w h i c h h e f u l l y d i s c u s s e s . He " k i l l s h e r in h e r o w n h u m o u r " ( I V , 1 , 1 8 9) a n d is " m o r e s h r e w t h an s h e " ( I v , i , 8 5 - 0 6 ) . K a t h e r i n a , l i ke S l y is r e m o v e d f r om t h e f a m i l i a r , h e r f a t h e r ’s h o u s e a n d f i n d s h e r s e l f l i v i n g a l i f e d i r e c t e d by P e t r u c h i o w h o d e c i d e s h o w s h e w i l l l ive , sl e e p, ea t, d r e s s a n d act. T h er e c a n be n o d o u b t t ha t K a t h e r i n a ’s f i r s t w e e k of m a r -r i a g e to h i m is u n b e a r a b l e a n d t h e r e a r e t i m e s w h e n it s e e m s i m p o s s i b l e t h at s h e w i l l s t a n d so m u c h . O n e of t h e p o s s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n s is th at s h e is a t t r a c t e d to P e t r u c h i o , t h a t s he d o e s n o t w a n t to l i v e in i s o l a t i o n as s h e m o r e o r l e s s d i d p r i o r to h i s a r r i v a l . S h e t e l l s h e r f a t h e r a b o u t 0iartca’s m a r -r i a g e : W h a t w i l l y o u n ot s u f f e r m e ? N a y, n o w I s e e S h e is y o u r t r e a s u r e , s h e m u s t h a v e a h u s b a n d , I m u s t d a n c e b a r e - f o o t on he r w e d d i n g da y, A n d for y o u r l o v e to h e r l e a d a p e s in h e l l . Ta lk n ot to me , I w i l l g o a n d w e e p , Ti l l I c a n f i n d o c c a s i o n of r e v e n g e ( I I , i , 3 1 - 3 6 ) C o n s i d e r i n g K a t h e r i n a ’s s h r e w i s h r e p u t a t i o n , h e r r e f u s a l to m a r r y P e t r u c h i o is far f r o m c o n v i n c i n g , s h e h a d a f t e r all h e r f a t h e r ’s p r o m i s e th at s h e w o u l d be a l l o w e d to a c c e p t he r future h u s b a n d . ( O i a n c a h a s n o s u c h p r o m i s e ) . T he t e a r s s h e c r i e s w h e n P e t r u c h i o is l a t e for the w e d d i n g c e r e m o n y ( I I I ,ii ,26) s e e m n o t t h e r e s u l t of w o u n d e d p r i d e b u t m o r e th e r e s u l t of ye t a n o t h e r r e j e c t i o n a n d f u r t h e r i s o l a t i o n , as a r e t h e t e a r s , s h e s a y s , s h e w i l l c r y in th e a b o v e p a s s a g e . T he d e p r i v a t i o n t h at s h e u n d e r g o e s in h e r h u s b a n d ’s h o u s e is to i m p r o v e h e r , a n d b r i n g s h e r to a h a p p y r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i m a n d a r e t u r n to s o c i e t y 3 0 . 0 o t h K a t h e r i n a a n d S l y a c q u i r e a n e w f o u n d d om esti-c a t i o n . Sh e, as Sl y di d, n e e d e d h e l p a n d t u i t i o n to k n o w h o w to ac t. In h e r c a s e it is H o r e n s i o w h o g i v e s h e r th e v i t a l c l u e j " S a y as h e sa y s , or we s h a l l n e v e r go " ( I V , » , 11). i(J 0 a r t о n, op. c i t . , p. 1 0 6 - 1 0 7 .
P e t r u c h i o r i d s h e r of h e r s h r e w i s h n e s s , o r i g i n a l l y a d e -f e n s e no t i n t r i n -f i c to h e r n a t u r e , a n d p e r m i t s h e r to e s c a p e i n t o f r e e d o m a n d l o v e w i t h i n t h e b o n d s of m a r r i a g e . M. F r e n c h h a s e x p r e s s e d it in t h e f o l l o w i n g wa y : H e r e v e n t u a l a c c e p t a n c e o f the i n l a w f e m i n i n e p r i n c i p l e , h e r r e n u n c i a t i o n of i t s o u t l a w a s p e c t ( K a t e ’s r e b e l l i o n is no t r o o t e d in the d e s i r e to a c c o m o d a t e h e r s e l f to it), l ed to h e r a c c e p t a n c e of the r o l e d e f i n e d fo r h e r by t he s o c i a l s t r u c tu re . S h e b e c o m e s " c o n f o r m a b l e as o t h e r h o u s e h o l d c a t e s " w i t h t h e r e -s u l t of " p e a c e ... l o o v e , a n d q u i e t l i f e , an a w e f u l r u l e , a n d r i g h t s u p r e m a c y " ( V , i i , 1 0 8 - 1 0 9 ) . N. F r y s r e m a r k s t h a t th e K a t h e r i n a of t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e p l a y is n o t r e a l l y d i s s i m i l a r f r o m t h e K a t h e r i n a of t h e e n d -32 i n g . S h e is p e r s e c u t i n g h e r s i s t e r B i a n c a b u t s h e h a s learnt h o w to do it w i t h s o c i a l a p p r o v a l . P e t r u c h i o , as a v e r y e x p e r i e n c e d m a n , r e a l i z e s f r o m t h e v e r y o u t s e t w h a t is p r e t e n c e a n d i l l u s i o n in K a t h e r i n a ’s c h a -r a c t e -r a n d w h a t is -r e al ( I I ,i , 2 3 6 - 2 4 9 ) . T h e s e a r e th e q u a l i -t i e s in h e r w h i c h h e f o s t e r s a n d c u l t i v a t e s . H e w i n s b e c a u s e h e s u c c e e d s in s h o w i n g K a t h e r i n a b o t h th e u n l o v e l i n e s s of the f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y s h e h a d a d o p t e d a n d t he e m o t i o n a l t r u t h s w h i c h s h e h a d le d h e r s e l f to b e l i e v e 5 3 . The i d e a s of r o l e - p l a y i n g , t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n w h i c h a re s o i m p o r t a n t in t h e I n d u c t i o n a n d th e t a m i n g p l o t a r e a l s o p r e s e n t in th e s t o r y of B i a n c a a n d h e r t h r e e s u i t o r s . T h e c o u r t i n g o f B i a n c a f o l l o w s t he l i t e r a r y c o n v e n t i o n of i t s source C. G a s c o i g n e ’s " T h e S u p p o s e s " ( 1 5 6 6 ) w h i c h in i t s e l f is an a d a p t a t i o n of A r i o s t o ’s c o m e d y “ I S u p p o s i t i " ( 1 5 0 9 ) . T h e y a r e p l a y s of m a s q u e r a d i n g , the p l o t s t u r n i n g o n d i s g u i s e b r i n g a- b o u t m i s t a k e s of i d e n t i t y , w h e r e b y a y o u n g m a n m a y s e c u r e a c -c e s s to h i s m i s t r e s s 3 4 . T hus , in the B i a n c a p l o t w e h a v e th e 31 M. F r e n с h, S h a k e s p e a r e ’s O i v i s i o n of E x p e r i e n c e , L o n d o n 19 83 , p. 84. 1 О N. F r y, A N a t u r a l P e r s p e c t i v e : T h e D e v e l o p m e n t of S ha -k e s p e a r e a n C o m e d y a n d R o m a n c e , N e w Y o r k 1 9 6 5 , p. 80, 33 8 a r t о n, op. c i t . , p. 107. 34 Th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n t h e s e s o u r c e s a n d S h a k e s p e a r e ’s
exchange.* of i d e n t i t y of n e a r l y h a l f of the c a s t e. g. T r e n l o b e c o m e s l u c e n t i o , L u c e n t i o b e c o m e s C a m b i o a n d H o r t e n s i a b e c o m e s L i t o , В. E v a n s r i g h t l y o b s e r v e s t h a t "it is a l l c o m p o s e d of f a l s e s u p p o s e « a n d u n p e r c e i v e d r e a l i t i e s " 5 5 . T h e r e , h o w e v e r , a r e n o p s y c h o l o g i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s b ut s u p e r f i c i a l t h e a t r i -c a l i l l u s i o n s . In t h e c o u r s e of th e a c t i o n th e c h a r a c t e r s stage l i t t l e p l a y s in w h i c h t he y t h e m g e l v e s or t h e i r f r i e n d s p l a y p a r t s e. g. T r a n i o s c h o o l s L u c e n t i o a n d B i o n d e l l o in t h e i r n e w l y a s s u m e d r o l e s (1, i , 1 9 1 - 2 4 3 ) , H o r t e n s m t u t o r s P e t r u c h i o in h o w h e is to p r e s e n t h i m as L i t o to B a p t i s t a ( I ,i 1, 1 3 0 - 1 3 6 ) , P e d a n t is i n s t r u c t e d h o w to p l a y th e pai t of Vinr.en tio (TV, i i , 1 0 0 - 1 3 0 ; i i i ,1 -8 ). T h e i r a i m is to d e c e i v e the o t h e r s b u t th ey t h e m a e l e s a r e n e v e r in d o u b t about, t h e i r o w n i d e n t i t i e s . As in a t y p i c a l t h e a t e r th e m a m a t t r i b u t e of p l a y i n g a n e w r o l e is the c o s t u m e , a n d th ey e a s i l y r e s t o r e to t h e i r tr u e n a t u r e by c h a n g i n g b a c k i n to t h e i r o r i g i n a l c l o t h e s . Th e a r c h d e c e i v e r a n d m a n i p u l a t o r at th i s l e v e l of the p l a y is B i a n c a . A l t h o u g h s he d o e s n o t c h a n g e he r c l o t h e s , s h e m a -n a g e s to fo ol a l m o s t all th e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s * 6 as to h e r n a t u -re. S h e p l a y s he r p a r t of a sw e e t , d o c i l e y o u n g l a dy in s u c h a c o n v i n c i n g w a y th a t h e r g u l l i b l e a u d i e n c e , h e r a d m i r e r e s , o v e r l o o k h e r o c c a s i o n a l f a i l i n g s e.g. w h e n s h e t e l l s h e r t u -t o r s : I am rip b r e e c h i n g s c h o l a r in the s c h o o l s , I ’ll no t be t i e d to h o u r s n o r p o i n t e d t i m e s , B u t l e a r n my l e s s o n s as I p l e a s e m y s e l f . ( I l l , i , 1 6 - 2 0 ) At the e n d B i a n c a s h o w s h e r s e l f p e t t y , a n d e v e n s h r e -w i s h ( V ,i i ,126 ,13) w h e n s h e a c h i e v e s h e r g o o d m a r r i a g e to a p l a y a r e f u l l y d i s c u s s e d in H. B. C h a r i t o n ’ s Sha-kespearean Comedy, London 1949, p. 7 3-99 .
35 8. E v a ri s, S h a k e s p e a r e ’s C o m e d i e s , O x f o r d 1960. p. 26. 56 In f a ct it is o n l y K a t h e r i n a w h o is n o t d e c e i v e d by h e r s i s t e r ’s b e h a v i o u r : "A p r e t t y p e a t ! it is b e s t p u t f i n g e r in t h e e ye , a n d sh e k n e w w h y " . ( 1 , 1 , 7 8 - 7 9 ) .
h u s b a n d d e s p e r a t e l y in lo v e , s h e c a s t s o f f h e r o b v i o u s p r e -t e n c e s a n d -t h e a -t r i c a l i -t y . Ihe s t a g e - m a n a g i n g a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n p r e s e n t in " T h e S h r e w " d o n o t e n d h e r e , b u t c a n b e t a k e n a s t a g e f u r t h e r . Shakespeare, w r i t i n g t h e p l a y , h a s s e t the s c e n e a n d p r o v i d e d t h e c h a -r a c t e -r s , a n d h i s t r e a t m é n t of th e p l a y f o r c e s us to a c c e p t t h e s e a m b i g u i t i e s w i t h i n t he p l a y . A n d if we a r e a b l e to a c -c e p t t h e s e t h e a t r i c a l a m b u g u i t i e s w e m u s t b e p r e p a r e d to a c -c e p t t he p l a y a s a w h o l e . We, too , a r e b e i n g m a n i p u l a t e d in h o w to a c t in r e l a t i o n to th e p l a y . " T h e S h r e w " s e e m s to be a b o u t th e c o n c e p t of the p l a y It se l f, its a l t e r n a t i v e r e a -l it y , i n t e r c h a n g e a b i l i t y of c h a r a c t e r s , s e x u a l am bu g u i t i e s a n d a u t h o r i a l m a n i p u l a t i o n , as w e l l as b e i n g a p l a y a b o u t p e o p l e l i v i n g in i s o l a t i o n , e m o t i o n a l p o v e r t y a n d a b o u t a c h i e v i n g m a -t u r i -t y . B e s i d e s -t h a-t it is a l s o a p l a y a b o u t th e t a m i n g of the a u d i e n c e by m a n i p u l a t i o n of t h e i r r e c e p t i o n . Th us , as Q. D a -n i e l ! 37 sa y s , it is h i g h t i m e the p l a y s t o p p e d b e i n g c a l l e d a f a r c e or a p r e n t i c e wo r k , as it a n n o u n c e s a n e w k i n d of E l i z a -b e t h a n c o m e d y . I n s t i t u t e of E n g l i s h S t u d i e s U n i v e r s i t y of Ł ó d ź K r y s t y n a K u j a w i r i s k a - C o u r t n e y " P O S K R O M I E N I E Z Ł O Ś N I C Y " W. S Z E K S P I R A J A K O S Z T U K A 0 M A N I P U L A C J I A u t o r k a a n a l i z u j e s z t u k ę z p u n k t u w i d z e n i a z a l e ż n o ś c i p o -m i ę d z y W s t ę p e -m i g ł ó w n ą a k c j ą u t w o r u , u t r z y m u j ą c , ż e b r a k s c e n y w k t ó r e j S l y p o w r a c a ł b y d o r z ec zy w is t oś ci m a w p ł y w na o d b i ó r w y d a r z e ń r o z g r y w a j ą c y c h s i ę w ś w i e c i e " r e a l n y m " i ś w i e c i e i l u -zji t e a t r a l n e j . P r z y b i e r a n i e p r z e z p o s t a c i e d r a m a t u r o l i (na s k u t e k m a n i p u l a c j i z e w n ę t r z n e j l u b z w ł a s n e j w o l i ) p o d k r e ś l a d y c h o t o m i ę t e g o o d b i o r u . W k o n s e k w e n c j i u t w ó r t e n to n i e t y l k o s z t u k a o o s a m o t n i e n i u , u b ó s t w i e u c z u c i o w y m i d o j r z e w a n i u le cz , i to p r z e d e w s z y s t k i m , a u t o r s k i e s t u d i u m a l t e r n a t y w n e j r z e c z y -w i s t o ś c i , z m i e n n o ś c i p o s t a c i , s e k s u a l n e j d w u z n a c z n o ś c i i t e a -t r a l n e j m a n i p u l a c j i . D. O a n i e 1 1, S h a k e s p e a r e a n d th e T r a d i t i o n s of C o -m e d y , [i n:} T h e C a -m b r i d g e C o -m p a n i o n to S h a k e s p e a r e S t u d i e s , ed. S. W e l l s , C a m b r i d g e 19 8 0 , p. 106.
