The notion of class as merely performative shows itself throughout the theatrical canon, notably in works like The Marriage of Figaro and Pygmalion.
Shakespeare's comedies are typically built on a foundation of a comical misunderstanding that only the audience knows about, and Taming certainly falls within this classification, as well. However, in addition to looking at the context of such comedies as As You Like It and Twelfth Night, students should consider Taming in the context of Shakespeare's "problem plays," such as All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure.
