Disguise

The major theme conveyed in The Taming of the Shrew is the idea that disguise can easily change a person. For example, in the Induction of the story, Christopher Sly is drunk and led to believe, by the real lord and his serving men that he is the king of the city. Sly says, “…call me no ‘honor’ nor ‘lordship’…Am I a lord…or have I dream?”(Shakespeare 9-11). Another example of disguise in the play is in Act 3, Scene 1, when Lucentio is disguised as a schoolmaster and Hortensio as Litio, who are both Bianca’s suitors. Hortensio as Cambio, says to Bianca, “Sirrah, I will not bear these braves of thine”(Shakespeare 52), which shows the role play of how a servant like Hortensio, who usually does what Bianca says, will easily change to become someone who refuses to follow Bianca’s orders. This play is different from all other texts we have read this year in relation to the theme because, many other texts deal with themes of not giving up, looking deeper into something, and confessing to events when consequences can become even worse. This text is different because it explores the idea of  role play and how disguise changes a person entirely.

-Anna Eckhoff