Enter Beggar (Christopher Sly) and Hostess.

Question

I’ll feeze you, in faith.
A pair of stocks, you rogue!
You’re a baggage! The Slys are no rogues. Look
in the chronicles. We came in with Richard Conqueror.
Therefore, paucas pallabris, let the world
slide. Sessa!
You will not pay for the glasses you have
burst?
No, not a denier. Go, by Saint Jeronimy! Go to
thy cold bed and warm thee.
I know my remedy. I must go fetch the
headborough.
Third, or fourth, or fifth borough, I’ll answer him
by law. I’ll not budge an inch, boy. Let him come,
and kindly.
Wind horns within. Enter a Lord from hunting, with
his train.
Huntsman, I charge thee tender well my hounds.
Breathe Merriman (the poor cur is embossed)
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach.
Saw’st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound!
7
INDUCTION
Scene 1 This text is considered a play within a play. What do you think that means and how does it apply to the introduction?

Answer 1

The phrase "a play within a play" refers to the dramatic structure where one play is presented inside the context of another. In the case of "The Taming of the Shrew," the introduction featuring Christopher Sly and the Hostess serves as a prologue to the main story. Here, we see Sly, a beggar, who is deceived into believing he is a nobleman after a group of lords takes him in as part of a prank.

This introductory scene establishes several key themes and elements of the play as a whole:

1. Role and Identity: Sly's transformation from a beggar to a purported lord poses questions about social class and identity. This theme is further explored in the main play, where characters often conceal their true nature or social standing.

2. Deception and Illusion: The trick played on Sly underscores the play's interest in appearances versus reality. The audience is acutely aware of Sly's true identity, just as the characters in the later scenes often misunderstand one another.

3. Authority and Power: The interactions between Sly and the others in the induction highlight questions of power dynamics and social hierarchy. The lord's treatment of Sly illustrates how status can be manipulated, which is central to the conflicts in the main narrative.

4. Comedy and Entertainment: This beginning sets a comedic tone for the play, emphasizing humor and folly. The dynamic with Sly serves as a light-hearted prelude to the more complex relationships and conflicts that unfold later.

Overall, the "play within a play" in the induction establishes the context and mood, inviting the audience to engage with the themes of social class, identity, and deception that will be prevalent throughout "The Taming of the Shrew."