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

The Taming of the termagant Deciphering Kates Shrewish Character The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeares most usual plays. It is both a witty and complex play with characters that are large-hearted and believable drawn from life and based on a incisive understanding of human nature. One can see this in the main character of the play, the shrew Katherine. The reasons for Kates cunning behavior as well as her tameness have puzzled Critics and Shakespearean scholars for ages. This essay will seek to decipher Kates nagging character from the beginning with her father and sis, through the pithateness with her first meeting of Petruchio, to the finale where she is finally tamed. There is a potent underlying notion that Kates shrewish behavior is a by-product of the mistreatment of her sister and father. Firstly, Kates father continually humiliates her in everyday. For example, when Baptista, Kates father, informed Biancas suitors, Tranio and Lucentio, in public that he will not allow either of them to marry his younger miss until a husband is found for Katherine, he is in effect announcing he first wants to have Katherine off his hands. He consequently offers her to either of Biancas suitors. Katherines chagrin at this point is complete. Not only is she discussed on a public street like a piece of scandalous gossip unless she is also offered to her sisters suitors by her own father and profusely turned outdoor(a) as one turns away from a piece of rotten meat. Kate then tries to reveal her mortification to her father, I pray 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 infamous temper to which she replies that i... .... There is promptly obvious affection between the two, and Petruchio says of their new harmony, Is not this well? (154). He calls her his sweet Kate, and she recognizes the sincerity of the epithet. Therefore, with careful love and affection ste mming from Petruchios sincerity towards Katherine, her shrewd behavior turns into sweet honey. In conclusion, due 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 acting as a shrew. It is not until Petruchio wins Kates affection through his kindness and love 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.