reverse psychology will get you everywhere... if you are Richard Burton

 

During my enslavement to compulsary schooling, I briefly read The Taming of the Shrew and was made to watch the BBC modernised adaption (which was rather good)... but now I am older and wiser I do actually understand the storyline a lot better..... and to be perfectly honest... Shakespeare was a sexist arse.

Please don't mistake me either here, I am aware that women basically had no rights until 100 years ago... I did study History and I quite enjoy it (I'm an Anne Boleyn nerd), and even though during Shakespeare's career there was a Queen on the throne who made a splendid job of it, women were still seen as chattel.

Katharina (the main female lead) is a rebellious woman who won't marry and Petruchio (the main male lead) is a man up for anything who agrees to marry this woman to get her (basically) off her fathers hands. I will admit I am leaving like 90% of the rest of the storyline out but I dont care... so a LONG story very short, this man bullies this woman into marrying him, he abuses her and makes fun of her and is rude and all things nasty .... until eventually she cracks and becomes besotted and adores him and is essentially his slave.... er, No. I think not.

You dont fall in love with someone for them being cruel and unusual - just so we are clear 50 Shades of Grey kinky crap does not count, I'm talking about being abusive and blatantly aggressive.

But apparently in 16th century Italy, you fally in love.... personally I think its comparable to Stockholm Syndrome (you are kidnapped and you end up sympathising with your captors and basically becoming one of them - it happens much more commonly than is known)

The voices and I agree that reverse psychology only stands true if you are Richard Burton.... or suffering from Stockholm Syndrome