The Taming of the Shrew - Katherina's Transformation
Advanced English - Essay
By Morgan Clifford
"Discuss Katherina's Transformation Through-Out The Play"
Love can transform any individual into a new person. In William Shakespeare's play, 'The Taming Of The Shrew', Katherina Minola starts off as a rebellious and unorthodox character (especially when compared to her pure sister Bianca), but ends up evolving from a stubborn shrew into a loyal and obedient wife to Petruchio. Shakespeare uses the plot as well as numerous other techniques such as metaphor, symbolism and tone to establish the transformation of Katherina to show the audience the impact that love can have on one's personality and human spirit. By the end of the play, we are left to believe that Katherina was a shrew that was waiting to be tamed by her male suitor all along; and thereby hangs a tale.
Through-out the beginning of 'The Taming Of The Shrew' (Act I and Act II), Shakespeare presents Katherina as a feisty and rebellious feminist which results in her father, Baptista, being constantly bombarded with criticism and rage by not only possible suitors for Bianca but other characters featured within Padua. An example of people's animosity towards her is when Gremio declares her as a "fiend of hell" and states that "any man is so very fool to be married to hell". These metaphorical quotes give the audience an understanding as to the type of wife Katherina would be at this stage of the play. Hortensio also says that Katherina is not likely to get a husband unless she is "of gentler spirit" and claims that she is "renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue". These quotes give the audience an understanding as to how different people perceive her character before her transformation. Katherina proves to the audience her stubbornness and unwillingness to bow down to men when she says to Petruchio after being told to marry on Sunday "I'll see thee hanged on Sunday first". Katherina shouts with such bitterness because she is not used to people telling
By Morgan Clifford
"Discuss Katherina's Transformation Through-Out The Play"
Love can transform any individual into a new person. In William Shakespeare's play, 'The Taming Of The Shrew', Katherina Minola starts off as a rebellious and unorthodox character (especially when compared to her pure sister Bianca), but ends up evolving from a stubborn shrew into a loyal and obedient wife to Petruchio. Shakespeare uses the plot as well as numerous other techniques such as metaphor, symbolism and tone to establish the transformation of Katherina to show the audience the impact that love can have on one's personality and human spirit. By the end of the play, we are left to believe that Katherina was a shrew that was waiting to be tamed by her male suitor all along; and thereby hangs a tale.
Through-out the beginning of 'The Taming Of The Shrew' (Act I and Act II), Shakespeare presents Katherina as a feisty and rebellious feminist which results in her father, Baptista, being constantly bombarded with criticism and rage by not only possible suitors for Bianca but other characters featured within Padua. An example of people's animosity towards her is when Gremio declares her as a "fiend of hell" and states that "any man is so very fool to be married to hell". These metaphorical quotes give the audience an understanding as to the type of wife Katherina would be at this stage of the play. Hortensio also says that Katherina is not likely to get a husband unless she is "of gentler spirit" and claims that she is "renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue". These quotes give the audience an understanding as to how different people perceive her character before her transformation. Katherina proves to the audience her stubbornness and unwillingness to bow down to men when she says to Petruchio after being told to marry on Sunday "I'll see thee hanged on Sunday first". Katherina shouts with such bitterness because she is not used to people telling