Examine closely Katherine's speech in Act 5 Scene 2 lines 136-179. What is your view of this speech as the climax of this story? How have Kate's opinions and language changed since the early acts of the play? Why do you think that she has changed so much?

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Bothaina El Kahhal

The British International School of Cairo

Examine closely Katherine’s speech in Act 5 Scene 2 lines 136-179. What is your view of this speech as the climax of this story? How have Kate’s opinions and language changed since the early acts of the play? Why do you think that she has changed so much?

What is your view of this speech as the climax of this story?

In “The Taming of the Shrew”, Katherina gives a final speech in Act 5, Scene 2, which many people consider sexist, in terms of the content and the language used. As George Bernard Shaw said, the play is “Altogether disgusting to modern sensibility”. It can be maintained that Petruchio is a rather challenging type, who sees their relationship as a game. Consequently, he knows he will win, thus winning a beautiful bride as well as the dowry. The final speech is proof that he has changed Katherina from an independent male to the woman that she is. He only plays the game to obtain the ideal marriage. Eventually they learn to love each other. In a play that is open for interpretation, the audience maintains many different points of view. One supposition is that Katherina has not been tamed yet, and is only playing along with Petruchio’s game to stop his abusive treatment. Another way of explaining it is that because for the first time in her life Katherina has realized that somebody actually cares about her enough to refine her, she gives up her discourteous past and sets off on a promising and happy future. I think that ultimately, Katherina changed from the Shrew into the acceptable wife because she has come to terms with her role as a woman, and realized that she has found love by becoming submissive to anything she disagrees with.

How have Kate’s opinions and language changed since the early acts of the play?

The first sentence Katherina has uttered in the play is “I pray you, sir, is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates?”. In Shakespearean times, for a young woman to use language such as “stale” and “mate”, would have been considered rude and controversial. This is language of a typical male in those days, just as Katherina seems to be. This view supports how her language and opinions have changed from the beginning to the end of the play. The first impression of Katherina tends to be that she is as rude as a spoilt child and in the same way that the child needs to be taught manners, Katherina needs to be tamed. The irony in this case is that Bianca is infact the spoilt child especially when Baptista showers her with compliments. This puts negative influence on Katherina, as her hatred towards Bianca grows with every passing day. “A pretty peat! It is best put finger in the eye and she knew why.” Towards the end of the play, when she gives her speech, it is easily noticeable that her language and views have changed. It makes Katherina appear to be calm and gentle.

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The first signs of change in Katherina appear in Act 3, Scene 2 after their wedding, when Tranio and Gremio moth ask Petruchio to stay till after dinner. Thinking that is would make a difference; Katherina sweetly tells Petruchio “Let me entreat you”. Obviously you see that she is only playing along, trying to get her way as Bianca does with Baptista. As her refuses, it makes you realize that Petruchio is not easily manipulated and will only treat Katherina as an equal when she treats others in the same way. Later on in the same conversation, she says ...

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