Power In The Taming Of The Shrew

In William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, the Induction scenes, often removed from contemporary performances, function as an introduction to themes that will be explored in the Acts such as identity and power relations. Evident through stage direction and diction, the Induction scenes will be paralleled with the Acts to suggest that power is established through the metaphor of people as animals. Through this exertion of power, the idea of transformation will be explored as those in power control ones identity; the way one acts, speaks, and thinks. It will be argued that through power, those in control can make others subservient to them and inevitably cause those is a weaker position to change their identity and become someone they are not.
In the 16th century Elizabethan Era, hunting was seen as a leisure for wealthy that depicted man’s dominance over other creatures. In the Induction scenes the Lords entrance, dictated by his stage direction, reads “Horns sound. Enter a Lord from hunting, with his train” which is paralleled in the main play by Lucentio’s entrance “Flourish. Enter Lucentio and his man, Tranio”. These entrances illustrate those affluent men …show more content…
This contrasts Christopher Sly who is prone, a drunkard, and a beggar with no presence or sway in society. As the Lord has the power and wealth, he has a means and the ability to “practice on this drunken man” (Induction 1. 34) and transform Sly for the sole purpose of entertainment, it. Sly’s transformation from a “foul and loathsome” (Induction 1. 33) man into a “mighty lord” (Induction 1. 63) establishes the theme of change and transformation. This theme carries into the main play as Tranio takes on the role of master acting as Lucentio exemplifying that at the whims of their social superiors, those of a lower status fulfill their masters