Free Essays on The Taming Of The Shrew

In the beginning of â€Å"The Taming of the Shrew†, some say Shakespeare portrays Katherina as a very shrewish figure. Others may argue that she is not shrewish but just a very strong willed person. At the end of the play some people say she is transformed into a very kind and gentle person, while again others will argue that she is not â€Å"tamed† but just putting on an act to â€Å"show up† her younger sister Bianca, whom has always been more beautiful and charming. Kate is â€Å"like a wasp, like a foal, like foal that kicks from his halter; pert, quick and determined, but full of good heart.† 1. This statement made by one author, shows clearly that he does not see her as shrew-like, even at the beginning of the play. The same author states that at the end of the play she has not really transformed, rather she has just fallen in love with Petruchio, in essence she is free from torment because she is no longer seen as the shrew. In the beginning of the play Kate is â€Å"consistently in opposition to everything around her†2, meanwhile â€Å"Bianca obeys so gently and with such sweet submission that it is obvious why she is Baptista’s favorite daughter†2. In the end of the play, the roles switch and Katherina is submissive to every word of Petruchio and Bianca resists the commands of her new husband. Kate’s first reaction to Petruchio, her â€Å"mad wooer†, is self-pity, and even her father feels that his treatment of her would â€Å"vex a saint†. He takes her away from the home she is used to, with servants and maids to wait on her hand and foot, to the country. There she is away from the luxurious town life and is cold, hungry and tired. She somewhat learns to watch her temper and obey Petruchio so that he will feed her so she can survive peacefully rather than miserably. I believe that his method of taming her is not cruel yet very effective. He shows her that she can get much farther an d live life a lot happier if she is nice and â€Å"e... Free Essays on The Taming of the Shrew Free Essays on The Taming of the Shrew In the beginning of â€Å"The Taming of the Shrew†, some say Shakespeare portrays Katherina as a very shrewish figure. Others may argue that she is not shrewish but just a very strong willed person. At the end of the play some people say she is transformed into a very kind and gentle person, while again others will argue that she is not â€Å"tamed† but just putting on an act to â€Å"show up† her younger sister Bianca, whom has always been more beautiful and charming. Kate is â€Å"like a wasp, like a foal, like foal that kicks from his halter; pert, quick and determined, but full of good heart.† 1. This statement made by one author, shows clearly that he does not see her as shrew-like, even at the beginning of the play. The same author states that at the end of the play she has not really transformed, rather she has just fallen in love with Petruchio, in essence she is free from torment because she is no longer seen as the shrew. In the beginning of the play Kate is â€Å"consistently in opposition to everything around her†2, meanwhile â€Å"Bianca obeys so gently and with such sweet submission that it is obvious why she is Baptista’s favorite daughter†2. In the end of the play, the roles switch and Katherina is submissive to every word of Petruchio and Bianca resists the commands of her new husband. Kate’s first reaction to Petruchio, her â€Å"mad wooer†, is self-pity, and even her father feels that his treatment of her would â€Å"vex a saint†. He takes her away from the home she is used to, with servants and maids to wait on her hand and foot, to the country. There she is away from the luxurious town life and is cold, hungry and tired. She somewhat learns to watch her temper and obey Petruchio so that he will feed her so she can survive peacefully rather than miserably. I believe that his method of taming her is not cruel yet very effective. He shows her that she can get much farther an d live life a lot happier if she is nice and â€Å"e... Free Essays on The Taming Of The Shrew taming of the shrew analysis Petruchio: â€Å"Even in these honest mean habiliments. Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor: For ‘tis the mind that makes the body rich; and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, so honour peereth in the meanest habit. What, is the jay more precious than the lark because his feather are more beautiful? Or is the adder better than the eel because his feathers are more beautiful? Or is the adder better than the eel because his painted skin contents the eye? O, no, good Kate; neither art thou the worse for this poor furniture and mean array. If thou account’st it shame, lay it on me; and therefore frolic; we will hence forthwith, to feast and sport us at thy father’s house.† The above passage, spoken by Petruchio at the end of scene three, does an excellent job of summarizing the theme of the entire play. The youngest sister, Bianca, is the most beautiful and the most sought after daughter in Baptista’s household. Through all the intricate plots that her suitors have, she is almost sure to choose the one whom she loves the most and therefore live happily ever after. Katherina, the so-called shrew and antagonist of the play, is publicly known as a vile woman who is the least likely to find a suitor, and almost certainly not love. However, all things change when Petruchio, the down on his luck noble and protagonist, comes along and finds his equal in whit and intellect. In an analysis of Petruchio’s passage we see a different man than that was originally presented to us in the beginning of the play. We see no mention of gaining riches, his purpose for considering wedding her, and in fact he denounces material things. â€Å"Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor: For ‘tis the mind that makes the body rich.† In other words: in wearing the ragged clothing that they did, he proves that his purpose is not for money and riches. He is able to see past her dowry and...