Taming of the Shrew - Shakespeare

                Does Katherine have enough motivation to change her                                                 personality?

        In the play, “Taming of The Shrew” directed, and written by Shakespeare the main protagonist, Katherine Minola is described to be a “shrew”. Because of this reputation; she is seen to be one of the most undesirable women in Padua. For Katherine to change, she would need a suitor to show her that they care for her, and love her.

        Katherine Minola is known to be a shrew due to her short temper, insecurity and how she degrades the men around her. Katherine’s insecurity, and volatility is first displayed when she yells at her father in public, and ties up her little sister, “Her silence flouts me, and I’ll be revenged!” (2.1.32) This quotation is an example of how Katherine feels that Bianca is more superior and desirable than she is, and this upsets her. Which causes Katherine to angrily lash out at Bianca through small, yet serious acts of violence. Katherine’s relationship with her father, Bapista is in ruins because Bapista treats Katherine like a piece of toy to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, almost as if he is trying to get rid of her. Katherine is well aware of her fathers actions and it upsets her greatly; which is one of the main reasons she is insecure about herself. With this being said, Katherine has no respect for her father, nor treats because she believes that he does not deserve it. “Neighbours and friends, though bride and bridegroom wants for to supply the places at the table…And let Bianca take her sisters room.” (3.2.253-259). This quotation is portrays of how Bapista disregards Katherine by how quickly he dismisses Katherine and is immediately more concerned with Bianca.

Katherine’s wedding day is a mere example of how her humiliation, and pain results into self doubt, and insecurity causing her to be a “shrew”. Petruchio arrives late causing Katherine to be humiliated, and embarrassed in front of her peers resulting to her storming out and crying.Hence, Katherine’s reputation of a “shrew” is more reflective towards her attitude, not personality. It is clear that Katherine is not a bad person, however she is filled with so much insecurity and anger because of how poorly her family and the community treats her that she responds to the world negatively, when all she really needs is somebody to show that (s)he truly cares for her.

        Petruchio’s character reveals that he does not care for Katherine emotionally. Petruchios main focus throughout the play is to acquire the family’s riches, and control Katherine, by taming her. At their own wedding, Petruchio embarrasses Katherine by arriving late, wearing a ridiculous outfit, and then forcing her to leave her own wedding even after she refuses. Petruchio then announces, "This is a way to kill a wife with kindness," and insists that she cannot eat his food because it is not good enough for her, keeps her from sleeping because his bed is not worthy of her and takes back her gifts of jewelry and clothing because they are not worthy of her. She because fatigued and hungry as a result of this, and falls prey to his manipulations. Petruchio then keeps Kate from attending her own sister's wedding unless she agrees with everything he says, forcing her to consent to ridiculously false statements.

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