The Taming of the Shrew - Do you think that Petruchio succeeds in taming Katharina?
The Taming of the Shrew Do you think that Petruchio succeeds in taming Katharina? You should refer to: * Katharina's inherent personality and social graces. * Petruchio's motivation. * Social and historical context. * Specific reference to on stage interpretations. At the moment I am undecided whether Petruchio succeeds in taming Katharina. However I shall decide during this essay by explaining Katharina's inherent personality and social graces, Petruchio's motivation for wanting to marry Katharina, the social and historical context behind the play and also four examples of specific reference to onstage interpretations. Katharina's inherent personality and social graces give you the first impression that she untameable because she is very foul tempered and sharp tongued at the start of the play. This is shown by her constant insults to the men around her and she is also prone to wild displays of anger, during which she may physically or verbally attack whoever enrages her. Katharina's inherent ill temperament and unpleasant behaviour could stem from unhappiness which was likely to be caused by, her jealousy about her father's treatment of her younger sister and even feelings about her own undesirability, which is the fear that she may never have a husband. The way that she could find happiness and loose the title as a shrew is by finding a husband that is
How Does Shakespeare Establish the Character of Katherina?
From Act I, scene I to end of Act II scene I Shakespeare wishes us to have his opinion of the personality of the main character, Katherina, as soon as her character is introduced. I think personally that Shakespeare wants us to feel temporarily sorry for Katherina. Much of the time she is provoked by people whose opinions are important to her, particularly her father, Baptista. She has a vile temper and I think that when Baptista makes an insulting comment, such as when Baptista calls her 'Thou hilding of a devilish spirit' Literally meaning 'You are an evil, worthless creature' It is more than likely that she will be upset about this. She replies to Baptista by saying 'She is your treasure, she must have a husband'. I feel sympathetic towards Katherina at this point. Her character is obviously focused on the fact that that she is bad tempered so provocations such as open favouritism over her sister by her father are not necessary if he wants to improve her attitude. Katherina is talked about on entry to the stage. Baptista is almost desperate to marry her and feels no remorse about 'advertising' her. He proves this by saying: 'Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure' Naturally she reacts to this comment by her father. For her, her own father just tossing her away to the first possible suitors he meets. This would be very degrading to her. She replies,
How does Shakespeare present the female character in the Taming of the Shrew
How does Shakespeare present the female character in the Taming of the Shrew? Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew explores the role of women in Elizabethan times. Shakespeare uses many themes and imagery in the play and this essay intends to explore how Shakespeare presents the female character in the Taming of the Shrew. The Elizabethans believed that a peaceful and tamed house wife was a good wife. This view is supported by The goodie and the Baddie an Elizabethan text giving advice on how to be a good wife. "...she is a comfort of calamity...she is her husbands down bed...a saint in her heart..." Shakespeare in the Taming of the Shrew uses the idea of good and bad wife with Kate and Bianca. Kate seems to be the opposite of a perfect wife, "To cart her rather! She's too rough for me" Gremio speaking to Baptista unfairly about Kate saying that she acts no better than a prostitute, Bianca, Shakespeare develops as being the perfect wife. "Sir to your pleasure..." Bianca is seen as the perfect. She in act one is seemingly attentive and polite playing the part of a good Elizabethan women, she wants the good things in life however may later on we see she may not be so keen to give back to her husband. "the more fool you for laying on my duty..." she offends Lucentio calling him stupid for betting on her, she may seem tamed but she is hiding a shrewish interior. Petruchio has
English short story. Sitting in the all alone sipping at her chilled root beer, Natalie watched her favourite music channel.
English short story. Sitting in the all alone sipping at her chilled root beer, Natalie watched her favourite music channel. The lights were off and the volume low as she was babysitting her little sister, who was fast asleep in the dead of the night. Natalie was staring at the TV in a gaze, like a tiger watching it's prey until it falls into it's trap; eyes fixed, yet the slightest movement or sound could trigger an upheaval. She was disturbed by the alarm of the microwave, and with a slight groan, she rested her can and lifted herself off the deep-set couch, which sprang back once she had left. Arriving back, munching at her salted popcorn she sat back into her seat that once again sunk down. With a sigh of relief she gazed at the television screen. She munched away and took another sip of her root beer, which was not very cold anymore. She was disturbed once again by the sound of the phone; she couldn't be bothered to answer it, however she knew it would awaken her sister. With a depressed attitude she answered, "Yes?" "Hello dear how are you?" It was her mother. "Fine," she replied with a distorted voice as she shoved another handful of popcorn in her mouth. "Is Bianca asleep?" "Yes," once again using a miserable tone. "Well dear, we will be back in a few hours, if your father ever decides to stop talking with everyone he sees." "I don't mind, take
Explain the ways that Shakespeare presents Katherine & Bianca.
Shakespeare Explain the ways that Shakespeare presents Katherine & Bianca. Shakespeare's comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" shows the two sisters, Katherine and Bianca, as complete contrasts to eachother. He uses various techniques to achieve this effect. Many of these techniques are the same for both sisters; however their outcomes are different, therefore creating two completely different characters. We first see some of these techniques in action in Act I scene 1 when Kate and Bianca are first introduced. Our perception of the sisters is formed by what the men say about them and to them. Baptista, Kate and Bianca's father, tries to persuade Gremio and Hortensio, Bianca's suitors, to woo Kate, as she has no suitors yet. Gremio's first comments on Kate paint a picture of her in our minds, "To cart her rather! She's too rough for me". Already we have a bad first impression of her and it becomes worse when Hortensio insults her, "No mates for you unless you were of gentler, milder mould". These nasty comments show that the men are scared of her and obviously don't think she is marriage material. Kate then says marriage is the last thing on her mind and wittily thinks of a comeback, "to comb your noddle with a three-legged stool". She threatens to hit him with a piece of furniture. It is now clear in our minds that Kate is obviously the Shrew. In contrast to Kate, however,
Explore the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina; its dramatic impact and the way it reflects Elizabethan attitudes towards marriage.
David Humphries Explore the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina; its dramatic impact and the way it reflects Elizabethan attitudes towards marriage. "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare is a humorous play which focuses on Petruchio and Katherina's relationship. It explores ideas of marriage including the impact of money in surrounding characters lives. This creates ideal opportunities for dramatic impact, which will vary in effect on the Elizabethan, and modern day audiences especially when various dilemmas are presented. Shakespeare uses a range of devices in order to achieve this. Before Petruchio and Katherina meet, the audience is already aware of the characters attitudes towards life and has thoughts of a fiery first encounter between the two. Since arriving in Padua, Petruchio's aim is to "wife and thrive" and thus becoming wealthy. This would come as to no surprise to an Elizabethan audience as they freely accepted that the principal of marriage was often financial. The use of rhyme is suggestive of a jolly mood for Petruchio, which implies he is very optimistic regarding his future in Padua. Some people today would not approve of a male so arrogant and his attitude would not be accepted in today's society as easily. Katherina is described by Hortensio as "intolerable" "shrewd" and "forward" echoing other people's
What do you consider to be the main reasons for Kate’s shrewish behaviour at the beginning of the play, and how far do you believe Kate’s position in the family and in her society to be responsible?
The Taming Of The Shrew Assignment What do you consider to be the main reasons for Kate's shrewish behaviour at the beginning of the play, and how far do you believe Kate's position in the family and in her society to be responsible? 'The Taming of the Shrew' is principally about the power of men over women in Elizabethan society, Kate is a prime example of this. Kate is born of a wealthy family; Baptista her father is a successful merchant. As with most well-off families Kate is totally dependant on her father. As Kate's father Baptista also has the legal power to dispose of his daughter how he wishes. This means Baptista has the legal authority to dictate who Kate might marry without taking any of her own opinions into consideration. Although this may appear harsh, there is little Kate can do about it; she is trapped. Kate cannot withdraw from her father's will as she will have no one to depend on. Kate's only way of escaping dependency on her father is to marry; her dependency will then be on her husband. According to Baptista's legal rights it is then perfectly acceptable for him to decree that Kate must be married as was conventional before Bianca. This way it gets Kate off his hands and out of the house. Secondly it is more likely that those looking to marry Bianca will work to find a partner for Kate. From an Elizabethan view this was quite acceptable to expect
Shakespeare - Focusing on Act 5 scene 2 of Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, explain how you would direct this play for a modern audience.
I got a B for this Shakespeare coursework Focusing on Act 5 scene 2 of Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, explain how you would direct this play for a modern audience. 'The Taming of the Shrew' involves a rich businessman, Baptista, who has two daughters. He forbids anyone to court his beautiful daughter, Bianca, until he finds someone to marry his other daughter, Katherina, who is labelled a shrew. The man marries Katherina is Petruchio; who treats her cruelly until she obeys and agrees with him. At the time the play was written, the role of women in life was different. Today, we learn that men and women should be seen as equals. In act 5 scene 2 of the play, this is not seen. In Padua, women were seen as possessions of men among with other things such as the man's house or horse. It was a woman's duty to obey her husband and because Kate did not, she is seen by the male characters as unnatural which is evidence of evil. With a modern audience, this role of women will cause some people, especially the women, to feel insulted or uncomfortable. In the play, if Kate is dressed in old-fashioned clothes then her speeches will be taken seriously, but if Kate is dressed in modern designer clothes with sunglasses and maybe a mobile telephone, then the audience will assume she is being sarcastic in her speech. A lot of what the audience thinks will also depend upon
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Katherina and Petruchio (in The Taming of the Shrew) and the nature of their relationship. Focus on their particular scenes in Act two and Act five and compare the difference between them.
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Katherina and Petruchio and the nature of their relationship. Focus on their particular scenes in Act two and Act five and compare the difference between them. At the beginning of Act 2 Kat is very violent towards her sister Bianca. This act of physical violence is to show how uncontrollable Kat is. The view of a 16th Century audience towards Kat's actions would be shocked. For the story to be successful Shakespeare allows you to see Kat at her worst so when she changes the change will make a bigger impact on the audience. A 16th Century audience would be so shocked that this would engage the audience. Kat has lots of built up inside feelings of frustration and anger. Kat lets hers feeling out and unleashes them by striking Bianca. The hitting of Bianca by Kat foreshadows her hitting Petruchio. Kat is nicknamed a "devilish spirit". Baptista and Hortensio call her "a devilish spirit". Shakespeare uses imagery related to hell and evil to reflect how wild the men think she is. A 16th Century audience would be shocked by this as the name "devilish spirit" would have been a very strong use of language at that time and for a women to be called it would have been even worse. Baptista results to calling her this name as Kat has pushed him so far that he loses respect for her. Kat is foul-tempered and often speaks without thinking and
The Taming of the Shrew, By William Shakespeare, provides contemplation to various themes described as acceptable at the time in which the play is set.
The Taming of the Shrew, By William Shakespeare, provides contemplation to various themes described as acceptable at the time in which the play is set. Themes such as, the role of a wife in a household and the influence of male/father figures on women, are issues that are raised prominently in the play and are often compared to contemporary values and beliefs today. The motif of domestication and a role of a wife in a household can be portrayed simply by just the title of the play. The word 'taming' refers to that of subduing one's dissatisfying characteristics. Petruchio describes Katherina as an animal such as a 'wild-cat' that must be cultivated. The role of a wife was clearly spoken for Katherina by Petruchio as he deprived her of sleep and food until she was willing to agree with everything he said. She was expected to agree that the sun was the moon or vice versa, whenever he pleased to change his mind, and even convinced her to agree that an old haggard man was a beautiful young lady. PETRUCHIO: I say it is the moon. KATHERINA: I know it is the moon. PETRUCHIO: Nay, you lie. It is the blessèd sun. KATHERINA: Then, God be blessed, it is the blessèd sun. But sun it not, when you say it is not, And the moon changes even as your mind. One of the most important components of the play was the speech made by Katherina about the importance of the roles of a wife to their