The movie "Ten Things I Hate About You" directed by Gil Junger is successful in capturing the essence of the play "The Taming of the Shrew" written by Shakespeare because there are many similarities throughout the two. For example, Katerina, in "The Taming of the Shrew" expresses her hatred for conformity several times. While having a discussion with her father, Baptista, Kate is asked to stay behind so he can have a chat with Bianca. Katerina answers with "why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What,shall I be appointed hours as though, belike, I knew not what to take and what to leave, ha?"(1.1.104) This shows that Katerina, lives for herself and takes orders from no one. In "Ten Things I Hate About You", Kat, who is the equivalent of Katerina's character, who has the same opinion on conformity. An example from the movie is when Kat and Bianca are venting to each other and Kat gives Bianca some sisterly advice, along the lines of, how she shouldn't act the way people expect her to act, she should be the person she really is. In both, the movie and the play, Katerina is portrayed as an independent woman, who speaks whatever it may be on her mind. In the play, she is "renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue" (1.2.97). Many civilians are hit by fear when they hear her name. In the movie, Kat is known to be the girl who is only relies on herself, not caring about what peoples opinion is on her. She wears what she wants, and prefers to be an outcast rather than a part of the crowd. To her fellow classmates, she has the reputation as a "heinous bitch". Kat and Katerina are similar in terms of personality and the way they are received by the people around them, only difference is the time frame the movie and play take place.
Although the movies does a fantastic job remaking the play in modern day time, there are some subtle differences. For example, the relationship between Katerina and Petruchio changes Kate as a person, "as she had never been" (5.2.7) Due to Petruchio's bazaar methods of taming, Katerina leaves her old ways and becomes the perfect wife. For example, towards the end of the play, all the men have a bet during Bianca and Lucentio's wedding. They bet to see who's wife would be summoned by their husband's first. To no surprise, Katherina is the only one who comes to her huband's command. At this point, it is evident that Katerina was no longer the same person she started off as. On the other hand, in the movie, Kat remains the same person throughout the movie. Kat and Patrick's relationship had no impact on her other than the fact that she begins to show some compassion and love towards her partner. She stops putting up the front of being tough and shows the audience her kindhearted side. Yet, she still manages to keep her morals and beliefs. In conclusion, The movie does exceptionally well in capturing the essences of the play but if one were to look in detail, it is evident that some differences are present.
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