The Taming of the Shrew, Act I & II, Post 1, Kody Bell- Character Watcher
In this Section I am going to look at Petruchio. Petruchio is a wealthy and very arrogant man who has come to Padua from Verona to find a wife. So two suitors of a girl named Bianca, who cannot marry until her sister, Katherine, is married, convinces him to court “Kate”. Kate is a very strong willed woman who many refer to as a shrew. During this time period shrews were looked down upon harshly, and people did not even like to be in the same room with them much less talk to them. So Pertruchio goes to speak with Kate’s father to ask to court her. He agreed, and had her meet him. The only reason that Petruchio wishes to marry Kate is because he wants a wife with a large sum of money coming her way, and she fits the bill. Petrucio is very hard headed, and has a temper just as short if not worse than Kate’s.
My question is do you think that Pertruchio will succeed to tame Kate? Or do you think that she might tame him in a way? Please support your answers with quotes and facts from the story.
-Kody
Category: Per 3 WotW CW 3 comments »
May 10th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
As Kody said, both Kate and Petruchio are very strong willed, stubborn people. Kate will never submit to Petruchio just the same as Petruchio would never give up on taming Kate. My prediction is that perhaps both of them will change a little and come to realize that they actually love each other and stop being so hard-headed. However, i think that there is also a large possibility that the story will end with Kate becoming a mild, loyal wife for Petruchio just as her sister Bianca is. We have to keep in mind that when Shakespeare wrote this play women were regarded as inferior to men, so his people’s idea of a happy ending could easily be with Kate giving up in the end.
-Ditz
May 10th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Well, after reading Kate and Petruchio’s long, bantering conversation when they first meet, I’d say they might tame each other by the end of the play. Every time Kate insults Petruchio, he gives a witty comeback. Every time he gives a witty comeback, Kate comes back with an even wittier one. They challenge each other.
Normally Kate is used to people cowering and running away from her when she insults them and Petruchio is used to always getting his way when he gives an order. Seeing as neither one will submit to the other, they bring out the “best” in one another. They could end up being the happiest couple in the world, or the worst of enemies.
-Paula
May 10th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I like Paula’s responce. This makes me think though becuase the title of the play is Taming of the Shrew, not Taming of the Shrews. But it could be Taming of the Shrew as shrew being a group of people. But when they had their conversation they did challenge each other, each time the combacks were stronger. But because that is what they do, they are able to get away with it. I think that Petruchio will deffinately tame Katherine and katherine will tame Petruchio. It would be a perfect love.
I don’t think that they will be enemies.
-Abbey