Abby Berates Celebrated Classics No. 1

I’ve now started my last year studying English literature at Tel Aviv university. The coveted degree is so close and yet so far. Meanwhile as part of my studies I am required to read a whole bunch of classics, and what better way to relieve the strain and frustration of it all than by bitching about them to the devout followers of my illustrious blog (which by now I expect must count millions).

For the first installment of “Abby berates celebrated classics” I bring you William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. What can be said about good old Shakes that hasn’t been said before? Is it too bold to say that while his tragedies are all that and then some, and Hamlet is one of the most genius pieces of literature I’ve ever come across, I find a lot of his comedies ridiculous and not humorous at all? Of course I realize that the humor of yesteryear doesn’t translate well to a modern audience most of the time, but it’s not too much to ask that they occasionally raise a chuckle. Modern theatre renditions of Shakespeare really have to ham it up to make them funny, but on the page it’s basically just a whole bunch of punning on rude words. So when Petrucchio says “undertake” it’s a double entendre for the horizontal macarena. Hysterical. I don’t think it’s necessary to condescend to saying “well, those things were hilarious once”; Shakespeare knew that the audience to his comedies would be vulgar and crude and that this kind of hijinx would get it going, like Elizabethan American Pie if you will. And just like I will never in any way agree that that movie is at all watchable without embarrassment for everyone involved, I do not agree that just because it’s Shakespeare everyone should wet their panties and give a royal salute. He did have to sell tickets you know. The Taming of the Shrew in particular is quite offensive to read and maybe that’s why it’s actually one of the more enjoyable ones. It’s just outrageously chauvinistic and actively engages in the torturing of poor Katherina until, not only is she not a shrew, she barely passes for more than a living puppet. Really gets them feminist juices going. The play pretty much makes a mockery of love, marriage and everything in between, and it is pretty funny to see Petrucchio starve Katherina almost to death, since she really is quite bitchy. Though I sincerely doubt that Shakespeare meant that part to be the funny one. But join me for the next edition of this newly added segment when I will discuss one my most hated plays ever, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is next on the reading list for that particular course. T’shall be full mirthful my good friends, as we shall ponder Shakespeare’s verse, if ‘tis a blessing or a curse.