Sexism in Adaptations of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew: Different Approaches in Adaptations for Children, Young Adults, and Adults

Abstract

William Shakespeare’s work still has an important place in society. However, some of his works are considered to be outdated and controversial by some critics. Adaptations have the ability to amend and criticise elements that appear to be problematic in the original. However, they do not always use this opportunity. This thesis explores the ways in which Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew has been adapted. Approaches towards sexism have been examined in four chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction to The Taming of the Shrew and contains studies by researchers who have focussed on ways in which sexism in Shakespeare’s play is visible. The following three chapters focus on three different target audiences. The first of these chapters features a close reading of two homonymous children’s adaptations. It discusses parallels within the play and ironic elements that affect sexism perceived in Shakespeare’s play. Furthermore, the teen film 10 Things I Hate about You and the young adult novel Vinegar Girl are analysed. The protagonists’ modernised versions are discussed. This discussion presents the contribution of these changes to the relationship dynamics and to the overall story. Lastly, a study of the Moonlighting episode “Atomic Shakespeare” is included. This episode of the show, which is about two detectives and their love-hate relationship, is based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. In this chapter the show’s ridiculing and revisionary elements in relation to Shakespeare’s play are analysed. Altogether, this research argues that the aforementioned adaptations have not only borrowed the plot of The Taming of the Shrew, but have approached sexism in The Taming of the Shrew considering the needs of their target audience. Hence, the criticism in the adaptations is not always overt.