The Taming of the Shrew 2
In Shakespeare's time, the ideal wife was subservient to her husband, and it was the husband's inherent duty to take care of his wife's money, property, and person, including both physical and moral welfare. If a man's spouse proved rebellious, he had the right to physically brutalize her into submission. This social phenomenon of domesticating an unruly woman as one might an animal was the inspiration for The Taming of the Shrew. Kate fits the stereotype of the shrewish woman at the play's outset and the Renaissance ideal of the subservient, adoring wife by the play's close, but her last speech as the final monologue of the play-rightly interpreted-undercuts her stereotype. Even before his initial encounter with Katherine, Petruchio knows exactly how to handle her resistance. In a short monologue, Petruchio proclaims in great detail just how his unorthodox approach will work. He plans not to use violence, but psychological warfare. For every evil Katherine displays, Petruchio will praise the opposing virtue in her character-even if it does not exist: "Say that she rail, why then I'll tell her plain She sings as sweetly as a nightingale.
"...Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, After many pains, Kate masters the practice of silence and unthinking agreement. She comes to realize that she must swallow her pride and submit to the whims of her husband, no matter how irrational. Traveling to Baptista's house, he tests her by intentionally mislabeling the sun as the moon. Naturally, Kate responds by calling attention to his mistake. Angered at such disagreement, Petruchio threatens to turn around and abandon the trip. Though Kate still has a great deal of independence and wildness in her character, Petruchio's newest test of obedience, along with the impetus of possible repercussion, forces her to grudgingly concede: Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me" (IV, v). To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, That in a twink she won me over to her love" (II, i). Of course, everyone observing this incredible change in Kate's character is astounded, as she has demonstrated, most convincingly, just how effective Petruchio's work has been. And thus Petruchio's unconventional methods have tamed the cursed shrew. To painful labour both by sea and land And be it moon, or sun, or what you please. Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe;
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1334
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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