I've had this book for a while because I heard about the overview and found it interesting. The first thing I learned is that the meaning of this story is controversial, in more than one way. Some see it as a play about showing male dominance, which in itself is controversial. Others see "taming" as an open interpretation. With many Shakespeare works, the meaning can be changed based on setting and the actual reading of the lines and how you personally interpret them. I learned that sometimes it's okay to leave interpretation up to the reader and their personal views.
The second thing I learned from this play was how to write changing characters. Although it is controversial, Katherine did change throughout the play. This change mostly can be put on Katherine's husband Petruchio, who over the course of the play changes her from a wild, unruly, rude woman who had no interest in marriage to a doting wife who would do anything for her husband. Shakespeare shows this change mostly with actions and the way that Katherine talks to others.
I also learned the importance of showing interesting male characters as well. In both The Taming of the Shrew and Pride and Prejudice, the female characters were well developed and both were very strong willed and stubborn at some point. While Darcy didn't really change too much throughout the book, Petruchio did. He changed by how he acted and treated Katherine. In the beginning of the play, he seemed as if he didn't care, especially for their marriage. He dressed unacceptably and refused to follow traditions, which was a huge insult to Katherine's family. Petruchio also treated Katherine unwell until Katherine was tamed, then he was more tame and kind towards her. I learned the importance of having interesting male characters as well as female characters.
The second thing I learned from this play was how to write changing characters. Although it is controversial, Katherine did change throughout the play. This change mostly can be put on Katherine's husband Petruchio, who over the course of the play changes her from a wild, unruly, rude woman who had no interest in marriage to a doting wife who would do anything for her husband. Shakespeare shows this change mostly with actions and the way that Katherine talks to others.
I also learned the importance of showing interesting male characters as well. In both The Taming of the Shrew and Pride and Prejudice, the female characters were well developed and both were very strong willed and stubborn at some point. While Darcy didn't really change too much throughout the book, Petruchio did. He changed by how he acted and treated Katherine. In the beginning of the play, he seemed as if he didn't care, especially for their marriage. He dressed unacceptably and refused to follow traditions, which was a huge insult to Katherine's family. Petruchio also treated Katherine unwell until Katherine was tamed, then he was more tame and kind towards her. I learned the importance of having interesting male characters as well as female characters.