Petruchio the Tamer?
Many critics accuse Shakespeare of being a misogynist by presenting silly, idiotic, and unintelligent women in his plays who are ultimately dominated by the strong, intelligent, and sensible male characters. At first glance of the shrewish subject of The Taming of the Shrew, Katherine, this supposition may in fact be worthy of consideration. Katherine while beautiful, is headstrong, obnoxious, and unwilling to fulfill her role as a dutiful daughter to Baptista. Her independence may be considered silly, idiotic, and unintelligent to some who feel that she should simply conform to societal pressures that surround her; comply to her father's wishes, marry a suitor of his choosing, and live with her husband happily ever after, whether she is actually happy or not. To others, like Petruchio, Katherine's character and personality was appreciated and even desired. Although it may seem that Petruchio "tames" Katherine by his sometimes domineering and uncanny antics, it is actually his desire to marry a woman with attributes similar to himself that leads to a successful and faithful relationship between him and Katherine at the end of the play. In act I, scene II, Petruchio is introduced for the first time and is shown to be a live
But slow in speech, yet sweet as spring-time flowers. (II.i.242-246) Pet. Should be! Should-buzz! (II.i.194-206) Comfortable as other household Kates. (II.i.267-278) Despite Katherine's comparatively weak objections, she still proceeds to the altar with Petruchio, perhaps being legitimately won over by him, who, upon his tardy return from Venice, adopts a much different personality. This change in character serves to wear Katherine down and break her of her shrewishness. Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well, And therefore setting all this chat aside,
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Approximate Word count = 1920
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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