Colorado Shakespeare Gardens
self-guided tour
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The Taming of the Shrew

To them it was immediately evident that every step Petruchio takes is a hawk’s lesson: how to work with the lure, how to be honorable partners, how to catch the prize.

Training falcons requires keeping them puzzled until they learn the new skills. Petruchio knows this..

Say that she frown, he muses. I’ll say she looks as clear
As morning roses newly washed with dew. [Taming of the Shrew II i]

Here he plans to confuse her by comparing her to sweet, fragile roses, such as blossom in this Garden. But when she comes, he confuses her in another key. He praises her graceful upright carriage as she stumbles and limps:

Kate like the hazel twig
Is straight and slender and as brown in hue
As hazelnuts and sweeter than the kernels. [Taming of the Shrew II i]

The Taming of the shrew

 

In The Taming of the Shrew, plants are pivotal in illustrating themes of love, control, and transformation. Petruchio uses botanical metaphors, likening Katherine to a wild flower that requires taming and nurturing to cultivate her obedience. He frequently references gardening techniques, emphasizing his approach to "taming" her through discipline and restraint. Additionally, the use of flowers symbolizes beauty and femininity, as seen in the characters' descriptions of ideal women. Overall, plant imagery in the play highlights the dynamics of marriage, reflecting the tension between dominance and affection, and the potential for growth within relationships.

 

Special thanks to longtime CSF supporter and thespian Chuck Wilcox for voicing the part of The Bard in our video series. Full production credits available here. All photos copyright Colorado Shakespeare Group except those in the public domain, published under Creative Commons (CC) licensing. For more information on (CC) artwork in this video, click here.

Enjoy this slideshow of the plants we have in our Taming of the Shrew garden: