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Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew
Commuting Roles
Through out The Taming of the Shrew, many of the characters change their role, and class. This shows that people can change their status, and that their birth does not define who they are. In certain situations, it was not the characters choice that their role was changed. But this proves that the characters can change their role in many ways. Taming of the Shrew gives many examples of this, such as Tranio going from servant to Lord, and Lucentio going from Lord to servant, and Sly becoming a lord, and Kait becoming tamed. In the end, everything stays as it was witch shows that there is no problem for these change in roles. Nobody knows if Kait is putting on an act or if she really is a new person, or if Sly still thinks he’s a lord. By looking at all of this, it is shown that Shakespeare supports the idea of people changing their status or role, and there is no problem with it.
The start of the play begins with someone changing to a higher rank. Sly is turned from a beggar, into a Lord. The play sets this up to be a joke, but does not end. Witch shows that Sly never turns back into a beggar. Sly remains a Lord, witch shows that he does not have to stay a beggar. Sly’s change from beggar to lord is one example of how Shakespeare’s characters change roles throughout the play. Since the play does not go back to finish this situation, no one knows what happened to Sly. Sly’s ending can be made to be anything the reader wants, because this situation is never really ended. Therefore, Sly can stay as a Lord, or can change back to a beggar. By not knowing what happens to Sly in the end, Shakespeare shows that he supports the idea of changing roles.
The change in roles continues throughout the play. Lucentio and Tranio switch roles so that Lucentio can become a tutor for Bianca, and become closer to her to eventually marry her. Although
Tranio, and Lucentio lies to everyone they are not punished for pretending to be each other. In Act Five, Scene Two Lucentio says that Tranio should not be punished for lying about being a lord. He says,
“Bianca’s love made me change state with Tranio” (5.2.116). Even though this switch is purposefully done neither of them gets punished witch shows that there is nothing wrong with changing roles. In Sly’s situation, it was not Sly’s fault because he was drunk, and a joke was played on him. In Tranio and Lucentio’s situation they purposely change, which shows that there is also no problem in change of role.
Although many people move up from lower to higher roles, there are also characters moving from higher to lower. Such as when Bartholomew becomes a woman to be Slys wife helping to support their joke that they are playing on Sly. Another example of a drop from high to lower [next page]