Taming of the Shrew Essay

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In William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew", Katherine Minola, daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola, has successfully transformed from an aggressive shrew into an obedient Elizabethan era wife with minimal flaws, because of the tactical brilliance of Petruchio. The Taming of the Shrew is a romantic-comedy about two daughters of Baptista Minola, Katherine and Bianca Minola. Katherine is originally a shrew with the tongue of a serpent, while Bianca is originally a stereotypical Elizabethan era wife. She is basically the opposite of her eldest sister, Katherine. Bianca has many suitors, namely Lucentio, Hortensio, and Gremio. Out of desperation, Baptista announces that Bianca may only wed if Katherine weds first. A man from Verona, named Petruchio, is seduced by Katherine's dowry, and courts her. Thus, Bianca's suitors pretend to be tutors in an attempt to court Bianca, and eventually Lucentio succeeds. Petruchio embarks on a near-impossible plan, which consists of depriving Katherine of essential activities in an attempt to tame her. Katherine Minola, daughter of Baptista, is undoubtedly a stereotypical virago. A virago, or a shrew, is basically defined as a woman of violent temper, and speech. Katherine substantiates her allegation of a shrew in many occasions. The first sign of her aggressive behavior is seen when she unashamedly cusses Hortensio " I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear. I wis it is not halfway to her heart. But if it were, doubt not her care should be to comb your noddle with a three-legged stool and paint your face and use you like a fool."(p.13). This behavior indicates harsh vocalization, which is an essential characteristic of a shrew. Later, she shows us that she is even physically aggressive. Katherine thrusts Hortensio through a lute, and then she proceeds by slandering him (p.39). This type of deportment clearly establishes
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