Scene Analysis
The intent of this paper is to analyze a few points in Shakespeare's Play, "The Taming of the Shrew." During scenes i and iii of Act IV, Petruchio has taken Katherine to his country estate. It is here that Petruchio will manage to transform and conform Katherine to playing the role of a benevolent wife. Petruchio's strategy is a very good one that causes Katherine to realize that her shrewness will not be tolerated and she must switch roles from shrew to benevolent wife. The Falcon, that Pretruchio's mentions during his monologue (IV.i.201-225), is a symbol of Katherine. Petruchio has to figure out a way to make her into the wife that he wants. To do this, he trains her like he would train a falcon. He denies her food and sleep until she is willing to do anything that he wishes. He also shows her prizes such as clothing and food, which she desires, and then takes them away. She, like the bird, comes to depend on him for these things and realizes it is her duty to love and serve him. All has been planned in his mind in advance: "Thus have I politicly begun my reign," he says, where "politicly" means "with careful calculation" (IV.i.157). The goal of this strategy, as in his first meeting with Kat
herine, is to bend her hostile temperament into benevolence by turning everything against her; to "kill a wife with kindness" (IV.i.177). Also, in Scene 3 Shakespeare seems to insert another bit of social commentary through the mouth of Petruchio, concerning the importance of clothing. He says that it is "the mind that makes that body rich;/ And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds,/ So honor peereth in the meanest habit" (IV.iii.164-166). This is the same sentiment that Petruchio expressed earlier to Baptista, and the repetition should make us take notice. The Induction seemed to claim that clothes could in fact change the man, just as Sly was changed from a drunkard to a nobleman. Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that this is not really the case. Of course, we know that the trick with Sly will only last so long, and that sooner or later he will be put on the street again. The key is how this relates to Katherine's situation. In which role--"shrew" or wife--does Katherine really belong, and in which is she only play-acting? She seemed unhappy in both of them, and it may be that she is suited for neither; and yet, as her resistance fades in the face of Petruchio's persistence, she seems t
Some common words found in the essay are:
Padua Scene, IVi177 Katherine, Katherine Petruchio, IViii73-80 Unfortunately, Petruchio Katherine, Falcon Pretruchio's, Scene Analysis, Taming Shrew, name perfect, benevolent wife,
Approximate Word count = 817
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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