Explaining the Source of Shakespeare's Play

The question asks us to identify which of Shakespeare's plays was based on the 1566 prose comedy titled "Supposes". Understanding the influences on Shakespeare's works is key to appreciating his writing.

"Supposes" and Its Literary Significance

"Supposes" holds a special place in English literature for a few reasons:

• It was written by George Gascoigne.
• It was published in 1566.
• It is recognized as one of the earliest English comedies written entirely in prose, marking a step away from earlier dramatic forms.
• The play was an adaptation of an Italian comedy, I Suppositi, by Niccolò Machiavelli.

Connection to Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew"

Scholars widely believe that George Gascoigne's "Supposes" served as a significant source or influence for William Shakespeare's famous comedy, "Taming of the Shrew".

• Shakespeare borrowed plot elements and characters from "Supposes". For instance, the Induction scene and parts of the main plot involving mistaken identities and the taming of a shrewish character find parallels in Gascoigne's work.
• The play "Supposes" was performed at Gray's Inn in 1566, and historical records suggest it may have been performed again in the 1590s, around the time Shakespeare was developing "Taming of the Shrew".
• While Shakespeare often drew inspiration from multiple sources, the structural and thematic similarities make the link between "Supposes" and "Taming of the Shrew" quite strong.

Therefore, the first prose comedy published in 1566, "Supposes", was the basis of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew".