Essay on Taming of the Shrew Deciphering Kate’s...

The Taming of the Shrew: Deciphering Kate’s Shrewish Character The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeares most popular plays. It is both a witty and complex play with characters that are appealing and believable drawn from life and based on a keen understanding of human nature. One can see this in the main character of the play, the shrew Katherine. The reasons for Kates shrewd behavior as well as her tameness have puzzled Critics and Shakespearean scholars for ages. This essay will attempt to decipher Kates shrewish character from the beginning with her father and sister, through the middle with her first meeting of Petruchio, to the finale where she is finally tamed. There is a strong†¦show more content†¦Kate is further humiliated when Baptista announces that he desires to hire schoolmasters to instruct her [Biancas] youth. He makes no mention of Katherines studies, resulting in her humiliation through public neglect. Any child in her shoes would have rebelled profusely. She is further deliberately left out when her father directs her to remain behind because he wishes to commune with Bianca. Kate then bridles at this and makes her exit, hurt by this display of neglect. Similarly, Biancas personality adds to Kates rebellion. On the surface, Bianca seems to be a sweet, mild young woman; a young modest girl, Lucentio calls her. However, in reality, she is a calculating and sneaky sister. Her deceit and deliberate call for attention increases Kates shrewdness. For example, Bianca plays the role of a long suffering saint, implying that the situation where Kate must marry before she can is difficult for her, but not so for her sister. The girl Lucentio describes as modest does not hesitate to parade her obedience for her fathers benefit. She says she will make her books and instruments her company without complaint. She thus gains the sympathy of Lucentio, her two suitors, and her father. In turn, Baptista, to satisfy Bianca, attempts to hire her schoolmasters. Kate, knowing her sisters deception, retaliates in anger and