| By Countess Olivia |

What is this “Taming Of The Shrew” play? Well, you’re about to find out.

WARNING: Please only read this article if you don’t mind spoilers!

“Taming of the Shrew” is one of William Shakespeare’s wonderful plays. It is about an angry “shrew.” A shrew was a way of describing a woman of violent temper and speech, though it can also mean a small insectivore. This “shrew’s” name is Katherina, or Kate for short. She has a beautiful, younger sister named Bianca. Bianca has many suitors. Kate does not.

One day, a guy named Petruchio shows up in town. He has come to Padua to seek a wealthy wife and hears about a beautiful, young woman who happens to have a mean-spirited older sister. Best of all, she has money! What a lucky break for Petruchio.

Meanwhile, Bianca’s many suitors come up with a plan. They are to dress up as school masters so they can get closer to her and win her love. But Baptista, Kate and Bianca’s father, says “No one gets Bianca until Katherina is married off!” Bianca’s suitors need a new plan: they need to find Katherina a husband. And who can make the perfect husband? Someone who is money-hungry.

Petruchio goes to woo Kate so he can have lots of money.  He figures out she’s a woman who needs some anger management, nothing he can’t handle. After a speedy wedding, he begins to help her by starving her, keeping her awake and telling her that the moon is the sun and men are women, claiming, “This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.”

Meanwhile, Bianca may act docile and submissive, but she’s in control of her destiny and has chosen to love one of her school masters, Lucentio.  They get married. Petruchio and Katharina return for the wedding and Kate surprises everyone by her complete 180 change in behavior. And they all live happily ever after?

Countess Olivia is a 13-year old girl living in Austin, TX. In her free time, she is usually reading, doing crafts or writing books, poetry and plays.