The Taming Of The Shrew Character Analysis

In this week's seminar we watched a BBC remake of 'The Taming of the Shrew' which was first broadcast in 2005. I thought that this was a really clever remake as I found it still enjoyable in the contemporary society but could appreciate and understand the original subtleties. I thought that the character within the drama that reflected Elizabethan society the most was Bianca Minola, played by Jaime Murray, who was the younger sister of main character Katherine Minola played by Shirley Henderson. I believe she reflected society most because she was the epitome of renaissance beauty with fair skin and an upturned nose. She also looked wealthy by the way she dressed, for example fur, which in Elizabethan society was a strong representation of wealth. In royalty white Ermine was the main fur used as it was a rare animal, which only stayed white for a short period of time during the winter months. Her apartment also reflected Elizabethan society as it contained many of her own portraits on the walls. This is similar to Queen Elizabeth I who had many of her portraits commissioned and like Bianca controlled her self image and how it was presented to the public. In the Elizabethan society miniature images of the Queen were available for members of the public which meant they were able to have a piece of her.  In the apartment of Harry Kavanagh, Bianca's ex lover, there is a small portrait of her which I thought acted as the miniature portraits, which reinforced my opinion that she portrayed a true reflection of the society. The other character that I  believe represented Elizabethan society well was Bianca's mother, Mrs Minola, played by Twiggy Nelson. She wore many items, which like Bianca reflected wealth in Elizabethan times. Jewels were the main accessory which were incorporated in large necklaces and rings. She also wore many pearls, which were one of the most popular items for the Elizabethans as they represented wealth and purity as well as fertility. As the drama went on Elizabethan representation got stronger from Mrs Minola as she started wearing more expensive looking clothing in the forms of velvets and a heavily patterned shirt. She also wore deep red shoes, which in Elizabethan society would have reflected wealth.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/tamingoftheshrew/

http://www.shakespearefilms.com/the-taming-of-the-shrew-shakespeare-retold/