When watching taming of the shrew in class I noticed several Elizabethan references that were persistent throughout the film. The main character 'Catherine' wears a lot of black symbolizing wealth with an Elizabethan neckline throughout. She is, as Elizabeth was, asked to marry to improve her public appearance and to be seen as a powerful politician, but ends up marrying 'Rufus' who turns up in women's clothes to their wedding day as Queen Elizabeth's King to be also did as seen in the film Elizabeth. Both characters in both films seem to be pining for love I feel although Catherine is very cold and angry. Her sister is the exact opposite in taming of the shrew playing the role of 'Bianca'. As the film goes on you see a view of Bianca's apartment with several portraits of herself on all walls, this reminded me Elizabeth and how she loved to control her image and how she was portrayed to the public. You are introduced to Bianca's agent also who at the beginning of the film is wearing bright colourful garments with stripes and checked shirts, this was seen as a poor mans wardrobe for men that worked on the land as everyone else in the film is seen wearing blacks, whites, beiges and fur pieces of clothing. At the end of the film however the agent is seen wearing black once he is ready to marry Catherine's mum showing his change in status suddenly from poor to wealthy. Catherine's mum and sister are always seen is expensive clothing, her mum always wearing colourful jewels and I instantly thought of Elizabeth's jewels and pearls which we're symbolic of her position and showed her love for expensive powerful things.
The film really made me think about what the Elizabethan references really meant and made them easier to interpret. The actors and actresses played their roles perfectly and it really represented the Elizabethan era well in a contemporary setting.
Image Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/f837a9e03724c5c5e4ef3f696aa24af1f19a53a9.jpg
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