Tweflth and Shrew

A detailed Summary of Tweflth and Shrew

Matters of the heart are what matter to Shakespeare. He has an unconventional woman fall in love in an unconventional way in Taming of The Shrew as well as in Twelfth Night. Olivia, Katherina, Viola, and Bianca; each and every one are courted in an unconventional ways and in at least one manner are themselves unconventional. This unconventionality is popular even in contemporary literature, especially modern romance novels.

In the Taming of the Shrew, Katharina is most unconventional; she is forward, loud, ill mannered, and shrewish. "Her only fault, and that is faults enough,

Is that she is intolerable curst and shrewd and forward." (I, ii)

"Petruchio, since we are stepp'd thus far in, I will continue that I broach'd in jest.

I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife With wealth enough and young and beauteous,

Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman: Her only fault, and that is faults enough,

Is that she is intolerable curst And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure That, were my state far worser than it is, I would not wed her for a mine of gold." (I, ii) This is Petruchio's first introduction to Katharina. With this introduction he makes it his objective to wed Katharina, and train her to

Whiles you are willing it shall come to note, What time we will our celebration keep According to my birth. What do you say?"(IV, iii)

In the Twelfth Night, Viola is very unconventional; she dresses as a man and serves the count as a runner, named Cesario. "I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,

Shakespeare is making the point that often times what you see may not be what you are getting, either in the manner of what you get is better than what you thought it was, or what you got is not as good as it had once seemed. He makes this serious point in many of his comedies, Midsummer Nights Dream, Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, and Much Ado About Nothing. The switch in lovers from Midsummer Nights Dream, shows that often times feelings of loved are based more on lust than true affection. In Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing, there are lovers who argue but love each other enough to have something in common, witty conversation. They not only "look" at one another they see what is beyond the outside shell, they see what is underneath.

Here is my hand: you shall from this time be Your master's mistress". (V, i) Through out the entire play Orsino is courting the masquerading Viola through his thoughts and actions towards his man Cesario.

And underneath that consecrated roof, Plight me the full assurance of your faith;

And let me be a slave, to achieve that maid Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye. Here comes the rogue." (I, ii) Tranio arranged for the marriage at the same time as his master was teaching her Philosophy. This leads to an unconventional wedding, hidden from Baptista's eyes.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1570
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English