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Essay / Has she been tamed? - 717
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare tells the story of the taming of Katharine, a woman with a fiery character. Petruchio, a gentleman from Verona, went to Padua to find a rich woman to marry. Upon his arrival, he hears of an agreement from Baptista, Katharine's father, that his youngest daughter cannot marry until her eldest marries. Bianca, his youngest daughter, is the girl everyone loves because she is always sweet and ready to do anything to please others. Katharine, however, is very astute and has a fiery character, which is why she has no suitors. That is, until Petruchio found out how much money he would get from the marriage. Immediately, he talks to Baptista and tricks Katharine into marriage. Even before their marriage, Petruchio begins to tame his shrew. He uses the same fiery temper and quick wit that Katharine herself had used against everyone. Katharine was tamed in The Taming of the Shrew due to her display of obedience to Petruchio and compliance with everything he says. Katharine was tamed by Petruchio, which was manifested by her obedience to Petruchio after their marriage. Before their marriage, Katharine was suspicious of Petruchio and she did not listen to anything he said to her. However, Petruchio began to refuse her food and new clothes. He also kept her up all night so she couldn't sleep. For example, when they returned to Petruchio's house, he complained that the food was burnt and she couldn't eat it. He kept making excuses as to why she couldn't eat certain foods that were served to them at their meals. When she realized this, she began to become more obedient than anyone thought possible. Towards the end of the play, ...... middle of paper ...... as she is more docile towards Petruchio. Overall, Katharine was tamed by Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. The reader can see that she was tamed due to her display of obedience to Petruchio after their marriage. She is ready to do whatever he asks the moment they visit Baptista and Bianca. She also shows conformity to everything Petruchio says. Even if Petruchio says something ridiculous, like the moon shines when the sun is up, Katharine agrees with him. In the end, Petruchio managed to tame Katharine. Works Cited Priest, Dale G. "Katherina's Conversion in Taming of the Shrew: A Theological Heuristic." ยป Renaissance 47.1 (1994): 31-40. Literary reference center. Internet. February 11, 2014Shakespeare, William and Thomas Goddard Bergin. The Taming of the Shrew. New Haven: Yale UP, 1954. Print.