Lily Hardy

[The Base @thebasecreates]

‘The greatest defence of Christian monogamy ever written.’

Project 39 continues with Katherine from The Taming of the Shrew - Act 5, Scene 2.

The head-strong and quick-witted Katherine has finally been ‘tamed’ and urges her friend to get married too.

This is a controversial speech. As far back as George Bernard Shaw, critics have found it ‘problematic’. Katherine - as they see it - betrays herself and her autonomy by speaking in favour of marriage and supporting the status quo. Modern productions tend to ironise the speech, suggesting that Katherine is speaking under coercion. But Germaine Greer called the speech ‘the greatest defence of Christian monogamy ever written.’ As she and other critics see it, Katherine has met her match and is submissive because in Petrochio she has met someone who is ‘man enough to know what he wants and how to get it.’

Katherine is played by Lily Hardy