'Hester and Katherine exploit each other, but for different reasons'. Discuss
'Hester and Katherine exploit each other, but for different reasons'. Discuss Hester Harper is a lonely, single lady in The Well. It was her loneliness, lack of love and need for companionship that made her bring Katherine home. She did not have a life of her own. Katherine was an unloved child, who had already been rejected by people in her country until she luckily met with Hester. Katherine formed a close relationship with Hester, and soon realised that Hester was quite fond of her. Katherine fulfilled all her requirements, and Hester believed that it is the beginning of a secure and loving relationship. Hester spoiled Katherine and made her life incredibly comfortable; she did not want to ever let go of her. Katherine was incredibly good at manipulating Hester. She displayed her care and friendliness on the first day that she was brought home, "Oh Miss Harper I will. Thank you...she hugged and kissed her." She was all open and honest to Hester, it seemed strange that a normal person would show affection to a stranger, without even forming a close relationship. Katherine from the first day, had a concealed motive by knowing that Miss Harper was a well respected and rich lady and for this reason was already trying to take advantage of her, trying to win her love so she could be the replacement daughter and inherit Hester's assets. There is also the time when Katherine
“Women’s Roles Have Changed So Much Since Shakespheare Wrote ‘the Taming of the Shrew’ That It Is No Longer Dramatically Interesting To a Modern Audience.”
Women's roles have changed these past four hundred or so years - it's a fact. Women can now vote in an election; own their own land; marry whomever they wish (depending on religion); eat, drink and sleep when they wish; go out when they wish; they can be educated in the same subjects as boys; they can wear what they like, and even have sex with who they like (again - depending on religion). In Elizabethan times, when Shakespeare put pen to paper to write The Taming of the Shrew, women were forbidden to do most, if not all these things. From birth, they didn't have a 'father' so much, but an 'owner', and when it was time for the 'father' to marry off his daughter, she then became the 'property' of the husband. The woman forfeited all dowries unto her husband, and she would never have been allowed to own anything. Although we in modern society like to imagine equality in life, there is always the hidden truth. There are many critics who say that life is not equal amongst the sexes, but more of an inequality now - against the men. There is the ever-so repeated story of the males being deprived of their rights when, for example women seem to get priority in court during divorce cases when it comes to custody. Although granted the majority of child killers and paedophiles are male, this does not mean that all men are guilty. A more recent example of this is with Millie (Amanda)
The Taming of the Shrew - Explain the ways that Shakespeare presents Katherine and Bianca.
CW Charlotte Steen 23rd January 2004 The Taming of the Shrew Explain the ways that Shakespeare presents Katherine and Bianca. Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew shows two sisters: Katherina and Bianca, as two complete contrasts to each other. He used various techniques to achieve these effects. The same techniques are used for both sisters to show comparisons between their characters. Shakespeare created two different characters by making the outcome of the techniques very different from each other. Shakespeare has used the theme of deception and disguise and based the play on the idea that things are not always as they seem. One of the techniques used is presentation of the two girls based on their behaviour and speech. The oldest of the sisters is Katherina who is otherwise known as Kate. At her first entrance in Act 1 Scene 1 she threatens to hit Hortensio over the head with a stool: "comb your noddle with a three-legged stool". This is because they have been making snide remarks about her such as Gremio says, "to cart her! She's too rough for me"; meaning that she should be taken in an open cart and ridden down the streets, like a convicted prostitute, because she is not like the ideal Elizabethan woman and people are ashamed of her. The Shakespearean audience had the idea of a perfect woman. They
Composers often use different methods to portray similar ideas to their audience. How have the two texts you have studied reflect the same ideas in different ways? Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew and Jill Junge's 10 Things I Hate about You.
English Transformation Practice Essay Composers often use different methods to portray similar ideas to their audience. How have the two texts you have studied reflect the same ideas in different ways? Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew and Jill Junge's 10 Things I Hate about You are examples of where composers have used different methods to portray similar ideas to their audience. This essay will compare the three common themes the texts share, including marriage and dating, deception and disguise and the role and hierarchy of women in society. By comparing the dramatic and film techniques used in each of these respective texts, the common themes are expressed in their individual ways which ultimately are able to engage their audiences. Traditionally, economics and financial gain have been the more important aspect in relationships, especially marriage, as opposed to love. The marriage and dating customs of society have remained relatively similar overtime. In Taming of the Shrew, the audience is given an exclusive view into what marriage meant to society and individuals of the Elizabethan period. William Shakespeare conveyed how marriage as a financial gain was specifically applied to peoples during his era in Taming of the Shrew, where in Act 1 Scene 2, Petruchio and his servant Grumio visit Hortensio's house. Petruchio boldly announces his quest to wed a rich wife.
How is the character of Petruchio presented by Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew?
How is the character of Petruchio presented by Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew? In addition to being the title of one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, The Taming of the Shrew was also the self appointed role and paramount purpose of one of it's main characters, Petruchio. Shakespeare presents this central character in a variety of ways and care must be taken so that early unfavourable impressions of Petruchio may not be misleading. What did Shakespeare want his audience to think about this 'apparent' fortune hunter? Is this man from Verona a heartless tyrant or just a strongly masculine figure, confident but perceptive, who has met his equal in the feisty Katherina? The plot has been revealed in Scene 1 for Bianca's would-be suitors to find a husband for Katherina. Petruchio is introduced in Act 1 Scene 2, in a humorous way. Upon arriving at the house of his friend Hortensio, he orders his servant Grumio to knock the door. His servant makes great jest using a pun on the word 'knock' (which also means to hit someone), deliberately misinterpreting his master. This angers Petruchio who becomes impatient and wrings his ears causing Hortensio to intervene to calm the situation. Shakespeare gives an immediate impression of Petruchio as someone who is impatient and doesn't suffer fools gladly. He will not hold back but strikes out when riled. Petruchio
Analysis of Katherina’s Character
Darren Kotiah Analysis of Katherina's Character In Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew there was one character that was adapted in many forms which is Katherina the shrew. If she was tamed, liberated or she was trying to surprise everyone by her acting, she was actually tamed. I will present arguments for and against these points. Katherina: The Whipped Shrew There is a lot of evidence that Petruchio had tamed Katherina. For instance, in the opening scene of the play, Katherina is very vocal and aggressive. All of the people in Padua feared when she came around including her family. An example of this is when Katherina is talking to her father about his love for her sister. "What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see She is your treasure, she must have a husband And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell. Talk not to me! I will go sit and weep Till I can find occasion of revenge." From the moment Petruchio had met Katherina, he was determined to tame the shrew. Petruchio immediately begins his taming process on her. After Katherina and Petruchio got married, Katherina try's to declare control in her life. Katherina is struggling to remain in control in her life. Unfortunately for her Petruchio won't allow it. ".....But for my ebony Kate, she must with me. .....I will be master of what is mine own. She is my goods, my chattels. She is my house, My field, my
The Construction of Femininity In Taming of The Shrew
The Construction of Femininity In Taming of The Shrew In Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare tells the story of two sisters with conflicting personalities representing constructions of femininity. I will be looking at the different constructions of femininity throughout the play and the different ways a female can be constructed through illusion. At the start of the play, a tinker called Sly has a trick played upon him. The trick is a trick of illusion, making him believe he is a lord. He is told he has a mock wife. However, The fact that his 'wife' is the ultimate deception being a boy. Shakespeare constructs the text so that you can guess that it is a boy dressed as a girl from the comments he makes about the suggestive remarks that Sly makes to Page. Sly's wife is illusory as is our communes of the two women. This is also a hint of what they might be seeing in the play that follows, is also in illusory. The play could be seen as Shakespeare discussing what really constitutes femininity and what is illusory. Katherine and Bianca in the main play eventually appear to be deceptive as well as the "Wife" Sly story. The story constructs the appearances of both women through the men's words, giving you a idea of how both women are seen through men's eyes. The descriptions show the extent of how both women are locked into their identity that has been constructed for them, for
How is Deceit a Key Theme in the Play 'The Taming of the Shrew'?
Helen Russell How is Deceit a Key Theme in the Play 'The Taming of the Shrew'? 'The Taming of the Shrew' is a play written by William Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet born in 1564. It was first performed in 1593 in Shakespeare's first period as a playwright. It was later published for the first time in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death. Despite the fact that Shakespeare is mostly known for his tragedian plays, here in 'The Taming of the Shrew', he proves that he was capable of writing comedies as well. The word 'comedy' is described by the Collins English dictionary as 'a dramatic work of light and amusing character'. The same dictionary defines 'deceit' as 'the act or practice of deceiving', which means to mislead by deliberate misrepresentation or lies. The element of controversy in the play is very important as 'the Taming of the Shrew' incorporates many components that, in the time that the play was written, would have been both unethical and unacceptable, for instance the change of social classes between Lucientio and Tranio following their role changes. The dramatic irony linked to the ideas of disguise is due to the induction involving the deception by the lord that leads sly to believe that he in fact is also a lord that has been asleep for fifteen years, where in actual fact he is just a drunken man that the lord believes need teaching a
Remind yourself of Act 3.1. What do you find interesting about Bianca in this scene and in the play as a whole?
Remind yourself of Act 3.1. What do you find interesting about Bianca in this scene and in the play as a whole? Bianca is the youngest daughter of Baptista. At the beginning of the play, all the action centres on the wooing of Bianca, however this is not the case as Petruchio soon becomes the dramatic focus when he appears. There are many faces to the character of Bianca, as on the surface she is portrayed as being sweet and innocent, however, as her character develops and w learn more about her, we begin to see another side of her character. Although the plot of this play involves the taming of Katherina, the sub-plot of the play involves Bianca and the reversal of roles she has with Katherina. In Act 3 Scene 1, we see the wooing of Bianca, which is in sharp contrast to the wooing of her sister Katherina. Here Cambio and Litio do not really have the upper hand, although they worked hard to exert themselves. Inspite of the fact that she is idealised by her suitors as a perfect, modest maiden, there are clear signs that Bianca possesses a strong will. For example, in her first 2 lines there is a suggestion that she will make her own decisions: "Why, gentleman, you do me double wrong/ To strive for that which reseth my choice". she shows a sense of control and command in this scene as she is deciding whom to listen to and how much she will hear and learn, and this mirrors the
Evaluate the different Interpretations of the Taming of Katherina.
Jon Walker Evaluate the different Interpretations of the Taming of Katherina. One of the main points of interest surrounding the play is its ambiguity. The play can be interpreted in many different ways. Many historians disagree as to the way the play ends, for example. Some feminists believe Katherina ends strongly having the last word. Others believe that Petruchio is made out to be stronger as he manages to tame Katherina. In Act 4 Scene 5, however, we see Katherina and Petruchio's relationship in a new light, but has Katherina been tamed? Is she conscious of the taming and playing up to it? Is the taming beneficial to Katherina? Also if the taming were successful or unsuccessful then surely it would provide a viewpoint, which is more favourable to one of the sexes. If she is tamed then Petruchio is stronger. If she is using the taming for her own advantages then she is stronger. The first interpretation would be that Petruchio is seen as the 'comic hero' - one to be admired by the audience - and that Shakespeare has 'sold out' - writing a play about perhaps the most talked about topic of the time (marriage) in order to appeal to the majority. Many plays were written about the taming of wives at the time Shakespeare wrote this one, including 'The Taming of A Shrew' - the similarity in the names of the plays here demonstrates how similar writers ideas were at the time.