Have you ever had that crazy sibling or family member that you are just trying to pin on somebody else just because they are “crazy in the head” or someone you just can’t seem to tolerate? Have you ever had one of those “Inception” moments that changes from one setting to another?
That’s the case with the latest entry in my “Neurodiversity and Shakespeare” series which will be covering “The Taming of the Shrew,” a play that covers both mental health and the fact that sometimes we need to develop a tolerance around people we cannot stand.
…
Katarina and Petruchio in “BBC Shakespeare: The Animated Tales Presents: The Taming of the Shrew”
“The Taming of the Shrew” is basically “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” but without the mental health hospital. Instead, we get a drunkard named Christopher Sly who is forced to watch a play about a father trying to marry off his daughters, not realizing that he is a “shrew” to his own wife who is unseen until the end of the play.
The youngest is quiet and shy while the eldest is insane and unbearable to be around. It’s not until a man named Pertruchio comes into the picture that the true work has begun.
…
But I want to focus more on the character of Katarina aka Kate. From the moment we first meet her, she clearly has mental health issues, and this is especially true when it comes to neurodiverse relationships. Anyone with mental health issues sometimes cannot be reasoned with in any way and it makes us feel sorry for those who are associated with the one with the mental health issues.
Kate is someone that plays by her own rules and will stop at nothing to walk over anyone, including Pertuchio. Now, in his situation, Pertuchio would just get up and run if he were to come across someone like Katarina. I do give him staunch credit for at least taking a chance and putting his own mental health on the line.
“The Taming of the Shrew” teaches us the importance of having guts and putting your health and well-being on the line when the moment comes for it.
…
Another aspect that “The Taming of the Shrew” teaches us is that not all families are perfect, which is clearly the case with the Minola family. The father clearly is at his wits end with his eldest daughter’s behavior and even though we don’t see it verbally, we do see it in his body language.
The sad truth is that many families are very dysfunctional in today’s culture and society and there are probably more than a few Katarina’s out there. I believe that while we want our students to grow and develop at their own pace, there is the matter that they need more than just encouragement. Sometimes we need to have a Pertuchio come in and tame the “shrews” that reside in every family.
…
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as Petruchio and Katarina in “The Taming of the Shrew” (1967)
In my case, I have had my own psychologist come in as the “Petruchio” to my own personal “Shrew” and although I was reluctant, her actions made me part of the man that I am today.
…
In conclusion, students in both general and special education will look at “The Taming of the Shrew” and hopefully take a good look at themselves to be better than they currently are right now. English Teachers on both General and Special Education Levels should take “The Taming of the Shrew” and have it be an eye opener that students need to see if they need to choose the right path in life.
For film versions, the only one I can think of is the 1967 adaptation starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton which excludes the Christopher Sly segment for some unknown reason, but stays true to the plot overall.
…
Catch you all later!!
Comments