Page "The Taming of the Shrew" Paragraph 219

In Edwards ' production, the play opens with a woman ( Lawrence ) dressed in rags trying to get her drunk husband ( Siberry ) to come home.

He refuses, and falls asleep outside the tavern.

His wife leaves, whereupon the Lord and the hunting party enter.

The ' play within the play ' is then presented as Sly's dream, and as such, the main plot is set in a surreal landscape, with Siberry and Lawrence doubling as Petruchio and Katherina.

The Shakespeare text is cut at the end of Katherina's speech ( which is not delivered seriously, and by which time Petruchio has become bowed with shame ).

At this point, the play returns to the Induction setting.

Sly has been deeply moved by his dream, and the play ends with him condemning the subjugation of women and embracing his wife.