Shakespeare Reading Group: The Taming of the Shrew
- Virtual Event via Zoom
Led by William Shakespeare aficionado Carl Steidtmann, this seven-week reading group is for both first-time and experienced Shakespeare readers. As 1.5-hour participatory discussions, this group is for anyone who might like to do some reading aloud, acting or presenting. The overall emphasis is on enjoyment of The Taming of the Shrew as the group discusses the play, reads brief excerpts together, studies a theatrical presentation, and learns about the playwright and his world.
About The Taming of the Shrew
Love and marriage are the concerns of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Lucentio’s marriage to Bianca is prompted by his idealized love of an apparently ideal woman. Petruchio’s wooing of Katherine, however, is free of idealism. Petruchio takes money from Bianca’s suitors to woo her, since Katherine must marry before her sister by her father’s decree; he also arranges the dowry with her father. Petruchio is then ready to marry Katherine, even against her will.
Katherine, the shrew of the play’s title, certainly acts much changed. But have she and Petruchio learned to love each other? Or is the marriage based on terror and deception?
— Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library
About Carl Steidtmann
After spending 35 years as a professional economist, Carl Steidtmann retired to pursue his youthful passions of history and Shakespeare. After three pilgrimages to Stratford-on-Avon and five years participating in Sally Frostic’s annual Shakespeare reading group at the library, he took over the teaching of this discussion in 2019.
How to join the Taming of the Shrew reading group
Since the Shakespeare Reading Group is gathering virtually on Zoom this year, there will be no cap on the group size. This is a seven-part program built on group discussion and contribution, and participants are asked to commit to the reading and attend most of the sessions. The sessions will NOT be recorded. It is a livestream gathering, and attendees must plan to attend the live virtual sessions.
The workshop will be using the Folger Edition of The Taming of the Shrew. The Library has print copies of The Taming of the Shrew to loan to the first 30 participants who sign up. If you want a print copy of the book, you'll be required to pick it up at the library.
In addition, for our remote participants, Folger Shakespeare Library is pleased to offer free downloadable files of The Taming of the Shrew here.
To join the group, register at the link above. We'll will send you a confirmation, then follow-up emails with Zoom access, details about securing books, and ongoing updates pertinent to the Shakespeare Reading Group.