Essay on Taming of the Shrew: Deciphering Kate’s Shrewish Character

The Taming of the shrewmouse Deciphering Kates Shrewish Character The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeares most popular plays. It is both a witty and confused play with characters that are appealing and believable drawn from life and ground on a keen understanding of human nature. One can buoy see this in the main character of the play, the shrew Katherine. The reasons for Kates shrewd appearance as well as her tameness have puzzled Critics and Shakespearian scholars for ages. This essay will attempt to decipher Kates shrewish character from the inception with her scram and sister, through the middle with her first meeting of Petruchio, to the finale where she is in conclusion tamed. There is a strong underlying notion that Kates shrewish sort is a by-product of the mistreatment of her sister and father. Firstly, Kates father continually humiliates her in public. For example, when Baptista, Kates father, informed Biancas suitors, Tranio and Lucentio, in public tha t he will not allow all of them to marry his younger daughter until a keep up is found for Katherine, he is in effect announcing he first wants to have Katherine off his hands. He thence offers her to either of Biancas suitors. Katherines humiliation at this point is complete. Not single is she discussed on a public street like a human race of scandalous gossip but she is also offered to her sisters suitors by her own father and profusely turned away as one turns away from a piece of rotten meat. Kate then tries to reveal her mortification to her father, I entreat you, sir, is it your will/To make a stale of me amongst these mates?(57-58). Upon hearing this, Hortensio scolds Kate for her ill-famed temper to which she replies that i... .... There is now obvious affection between the two, and Petruchio says of their new-sprung(prenominal) harmony, Is not this well? (154). He calls her his sweet Kate, and she recognizes the sincerity of the epithet. Therefore, with careful cho use and affection stemming from Petruchios sincerity towards Katherine, her shrewd behavior turns into sweet honey. In conclusion, repayable to her father and sisters lack of affection and humiliation, Kate develops a nasty shrewish character. She then recognizes her equal when she meets Petruchio, yet she has no choice but to keep performing as a shrew. It is not until Petruchio wins Kates affection through his kindness and neck that she finally lets go of her shrewish cover and becomes the envied wife of every husband Works ConsultedShakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew. Ed. Milton Glaser. New York Signet, 1971.