The Taming of the Shrew

by William Shakespeare

"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare is a comedy written between 1590 and 1592. The play follows Petruchio's controversial courtship of Katherina, a headstrong woman he "tames" through psychological and physical torments until she becomes compliant and obedient. A subplot depicts suitors competing for Katherina's younger sister Bianca, considered the "ideal" woman. Framed by a trick played on a drunken tinker, the play has sparked ongoing debate about whether it is misogynistic, yet remains one of Shakespeare's most adapted works.