Monday, April 27, 2020

The Taming Of The Shrew Essays (1507 words) -

The Taming Of The Shrew We think people act the way that their true identity is. Every person has disguised their true identity at one point in time has. We display these false characters or put on our masks for some personal gain. Many times, complicated situations occur because of the changing of people's masks between reality and illusion (Cahn 39). In a similar way, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, does just that. He creates a soap operasituation by placing different masks on his characters. Katharina does not know how to properly act to gain attention, but instead she places a maskon herself that becomes her reality. She is known throughout Padua as the shrew of the town. In the story, you could imply that her mother is dead. Therefore, when Katharina was young, she played the role of mother to Bianca (Leonard 23). As the sisters grew older, Katharina did not need to play the maternal role to her younger sibling by being harsh. However, Katherina could not switch the gears of that character since everyone already knew her by that personality. She knows about Bianca's deceptive ways. Bianca is being courted by several men and has her choice of prospective husbands. However, due to customs in that era, Katharina, must be married before her younger sister. In the early acts, Katharina's attitude appears as if she does not care at all about getting married. Instead, she yearns for her father's attention, but she goes about getting it in the wrong ways. Unlike her elder sister, Bianca appears to be of a more complacent nature. Katharina dislikes her because their father shows favoritism towards her. Katharina talks back to everyone with her cold but creative remarks and makes her presence known in Act 1 Scene1: Katharina: I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear. I wis it to not halfway to her heart - But if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb your noodle with a three-legged stool And paint your face and use you like a fool. Act I, Scene I A main characteristic of Katharina is that she is easily upset, becoming verbally and physically violent. She even goes so far as to hit her newly appointed music teacher, Hortensio (Act I, Scene I). Not long after, she hits the only suitor that would woo her, Petruchio. Katherina is convinced that her father does not care for her, especially because he wanted Petruchio to marry her. Perhaps Katherina's belief is true (Cahn 43). Baptista would rather talk to Bianca because of her pleasant personality rather then arguing every point with Katherina. Katharina wants the attention that Bianca receives, but she tries to call the attention in the wrong ways by acting out physically and verbally. Petruchio has to break Katherina out of her shrew character by becoming a character himself. Petruchio came into Padua not knowing what would happen. When he found out about Katherina, he was eager to meet her for two reasons: to gain her wealth and for the challenge of taming her (Act I Scene II). Petruchio's character is that of a gentleman. He opens doors for ladies and is kind and courteous to everyone. As the play goes on, Petruchio marries Katherina. He plans to tame her and unveil her beautiful inner self so he would have a lovely wife (Leonard 31). He begins to show her who is in command starting on their wedding day. Petruchio shows up late to the wedding and caused Katherina to become angry and scared of being stood up. After being married, Petruchio starts the taming process. He refuses to let her sleep and restricts food from her (Act IV, Scene III). Soon Katherina breaks down and starts to act obedient to Petruchio with her mask still being within her reach. Then he shows Katherina who is in command of the relationship by not allowing Katherina to get elegant clothing that she wants. Instead, Petruchio yells at the haberdasher and tailor that brought them and yelling how they are not made correctly. Petruchio is trying to show Katherina what she does and why no one likes that mask. Overtime, Katherina breaks away chunks of her mask until her

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