Kathrine from the Taming of the Shrew
KATHERINE (THE TAMING OF THE SHREW)
From the shrew to the obedient wife
Katherine is one of the main characters in The Taming of the Shrew, one of the earlier comedies of William Shakespeare, which was “probably penned in 1593 or 1594” (Wikipedia: 2007). Her role in it is essential since, together with Petruchio, she is the protagonist of this play. Katherine is not a plain character; she suffers a process of transformation through the play. In the beginning, we have a woman who does not allow anyone to manipulate her. She is a temperamental woman who always contradicts everyone and who is always angry. But in the end, we find a soft and delicate woman who always obeys her husband. But, what is the reason for this change of attitude? From my point of view, the main reason is her love for Petruchio, together with her growth of self-esteem as a woman in her society. And this is what I want to defend. I personally think it is clear from the beginning of the play that Katherine is not her father’s favourite daughter, neither the woman any man would like to marry. This idea is supported through the whole play, but especially in the first scene, when we know all the men want to marry Bianca, but none of them want to marry Katherine because of her unfriendliness towards them (I, I). We can see the contrast between the two sisters in Tranio’s and Lucentio’s speeches, where they refer to Katherine as a “wench [who] is stark mad” (I, I; 69), and to Bianca’s silence as “maid’s mild behaviour and sobriety” (I, I: 72-73); although these are not the only references to the differences between both of Baptista’s daughters. With these words and many others which appear through the whole play, it is not difficult to think Katherine feels inferior to her sister. It is not easy to feel self-confident if no one seems to be proud of you and no one accepts you such as you are. From my point of view, Katherine’s rude behaviour is just self-defence. It may even be a way of
From the shrew to the obedient wife
Katherine is one of the main characters in The Taming of the Shrew, one of the earlier comedies of William Shakespeare, which was “probably penned in 1593 or 1594” (Wikipedia: 2007). Her role in it is essential since, together with Petruchio, she is the protagonist of this play. Katherine is not a plain character; she suffers a process of transformation through the play. In the beginning, we have a woman who does not allow anyone to manipulate her. She is a temperamental woman who always contradicts everyone and who is always angry. But in the end, we find a soft and delicate woman who always obeys her husband. But, what is the reason for this change of attitude? From my point of view, the main reason is her love for Petruchio, together with her growth of self-esteem as a woman in her society. And this is what I want to defend. I personally think it is clear from the beginning of the play that Katherine is not her father’s favourite daughter, neither the woman any man would like to marry. This idea is supported through the whole play, but especially in the first scene, when we know all the men want to marry Bianca, but none of them want to marry Katherine because of her unfriendliness towards them (I, I). We can see the contrast between the two sisters in Tranio’s and Lucentio’s speeches, where they refer to Katherine as a “wench [who] is stark mad” (I, I; 69), and to Bianca’s silence as “maid’s mild behaviour and sobriety” (I, I: 72-73); although these are not the only references to the differences between both of Baptista’s daughters. With these words and many others which appear through the whole play, it is not difficult to think Katherine feels inferior to her sister. It is not easy to feel self-confident if no one seems to be proud of you and no one accepts you such as you are. From my point of view, Katherine’s rude behaviour is just self-defence. It may even be a way of