The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays, but in many ways, the values represented in the text are still recognised today. The film explores the ideas of dating, individualism and trust. In contrast to The Taming of the Shrew, the context in which 10 Things I Hate About You was created promotes female independence and, a huge societal evolution. Although set in a time of feminine power, the film still results to traditional views on dating and the typical “knight in shining armour” that every girl should find. 10 Things I Hate About You has captured the essence of Taming of the Shrew, however as it is a modern adaption, we can see that some differences in cultural values of our time have changed or evolved which are reflected in the concerns of the characters and the cinematic techniques used.
The play Taming of the Shrew, is set in a fictional society of Padua, Italy, which can represent the Elizabethan society in which Shakespeare lived. We perceive the Elizabethan society to be a hierarchical society with very set and structured ways, however it is debatable whether Shakespeare disapproved and therefore challenged his society’s values or if he was reflecting them in a sarcastic way. 10 Things I Hate About You is based in Padua High School in Seattle. The society created in this high school mimics and exaggerates aspects of a main stream, late 20th century, American high school.
Conformity is an issue that is more predominant in 10 Things I Hate About You than in Taming of the Shrew. Michael Eckman in the film uses the terms basic beautiful people, coffee kids, white Rastas, cowboys and future MBA’s to class the various students of Padua High School. The importance of conformity in this text maybe due to the fact that it is based in a high school but the film is also mocking teenagers by using exaggerated costuming and slang dialogue to emphasise the different categories. The extent of this conformity is not established...