Blog 2, The Taming of the Shrew, Period 1, Sonam Sherpa, Character Watcher
Well, in the first section of the book we had only gotten a glimpse of each character because it was necessary to introduce us as the reader to who we’d be reading about in the rest of the story. Now though, we are starting to see the plot thicken even more when the plans talked about in the first act are actually being carried out, and along with that we are seeing a lot of different sides of certain characters.
For example, for what we have seen of Petruchio before this reading he just seemed like an honest man who wanted to marry a rich woman for whatever reason he wanted to. And now after reading these two new acts we have begun to see how deceitful and cunning he can be. What I mean by this is that in Act II when he is trying to woo Katharina we see how he is trying to make it so she falls in love with him by pretending that none of her innapropriate comments addressed to him affect him at all. This is interesting because it shows exactly how desperate Petruchio is to marry Katharina, I personally can’t believe that even after meeting Katharina he would still wish to marry her. So my question for you is as follows. What do you think Katharina’s thoughts on Petruchio are? Do you think that she finds it odd that he isn’t offended by her attitude that has put off a bunch of men before him? Please tell me your ponderings and then elaborate upon them.
Next I shall be explaining how we start to see a different side of Tranio in this portion of the book. What is meant by this is that before these two acts we have only seen Tranio as Lucentio’s little servant man that did all that he asked him to do willingly. But now we are starting to see that he doesn’t really need to follow orders to feel helpful, he is masquerading as the master and seems to be fine with doing so after filling his bigger shoes. What I mean by this is that in some other works of literature we see a servant rise up against a master, but then they realize that their life is empty without all of the small things that they missed from their previous way of life, so I just found it interesting how we’ve seen Tranio develop a little bit since the beginning of the book. So my question for you is as follows. If you were in Tranio’s shoes and you got to like living as your master, would you ever give it up? Or, maybe would you continue to be the master and you master the servant? Please tell me your opinion on what you’d do and why.
Now also in this portion of the book we also see several changes in Bianca in this scene of the play. What I mean by this is we see her get violent with her sister in the beginning scene and that is not something that we as the reader could guess would happen after hearing about how much of an angel she was. We also finally get the first glimpse of who she actually was when she comes out of her shell and is talking to Lucentio during her music lessons. This is intersting because in these two scenes we’ve actually begun to see who Bianca really is, and by learning who she really is it makes it easier for us as the reader to be able to understand why people like Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio could fall in love with her. So my question for you is as follows. What other changes do you think Bianca will go throughout this play? Do you think maybe that she could change so much that nobody wanted to marry her any longer? Please elaborate.
I would like to thank you in advance for reading through this blog of mine and also for responding to it. I would also like to apologize that I did not explain all of the character changes, I only mentioned the character changes that seemed to be of signifigance to me personally. I also apologize that this blog is not as long as my last one.
Category: Uncategorized 5 comments »
May 16th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I accept all of your appologizes. I think that she thinks that he is a nut like she says in the play. I think that she does not find it odd that he “likes” her because if he is crazy he might like the way she acts. She probably thinks that he is messed up and that her shrewdness is attractive to him. this would make sense. She probably likes the way she acts but she knows what she is doing unlike him who would probably take it too far.
If I were my master I would probably see how he lives and want to stay like that. I would probably try and be like him but realize that the chances of me being a master in real life would be almost impossible so I would go back to being his servant if he wanted to take his old place again, so I could still have a job.
I think that she might become mean because these people are making fun of her sister and because with all of these suitors one could be like pertruchio and she might try to shut them out. she will be mean and unpleasent to the suitors and people won’t want to marry her except her true love. He would still love her and she would realize that he is the only one that loves her and be grateful that he loves her but will see the way she is and not like it herself. This will change her and she will go back to being nice and pleasant again. These are my thoughts.
-Taran
May 17th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Colin Easter
I think that she is annoyed with Petruchio. He is giving her a taste of her own medicine and then some. He is also acting disrespectful. She broke down to tears because she thought he wouldn’t show up for the wedding. She also didn’t like the clothes that he wore or his behavior that he had when he did arrive. I don’t think that she finds it odd that he isn’t offended, but she is certainly annoyed.
I think that there is an interesting connection between the opening plot with the drunkard and Tranio and Lucentio that you didn’t mention. I don’t think that Tranio could continue to act like Lucentio even if he wanted to. Lucentio still has power, wealth, and some fame. I would go back to being the servent as soon as the master would tell me to.
I think that she will become more independent and will be able to stand up for what she wants. With her sister now gone, she won’t be bullied around anymore. This will allow her to get more things done the way she wants.
May 17th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
First off Sonam I do not understand how you still have fingers after typing all of that. Secondly, I think that Katherine is probably confused by Petruchio’s actions. She has never experienced someone defying her. It is like Super Nanny ha ha. The spoiled kids on the show are the way they are because any time they whined they got what they wanted. Super Nanny teaches the parents that you have to ignore them so they learn that acting like brats. This I think will make Kate respect and love him in time, for taking the time to actually help her by ignoring her.
I would definitely want to stay being the master, but this is not likely. At the same time I do not think that I would be able to return to being a servant after experiencing a lavish lifestyle. What I would most likely do is talk to my master about maybe having a few perks, though I am not sure what these would be. After what I did for my master I could see this being a possibility.
To start off I do not believe that Bianca will change so much that she is no longer wanted by her suitors. The thing that I think will change is that she will become much more independent from her father. Baptista seems to have favored and babied her and now that she is searching for love, she will become distant from him. This happens for all people at some point in their life and she is finally realizing it. At the same time I think that Bianca will become even more loving when she finally decides who she wants to spend her life with.
~Erin Campbell =]
May 17th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I think that she likes it becuase she herself is a big jerk and maybe they are connecting on some weird and awkward level.
I would definatly take the place of the master and then tell the servents what to do. If my old master wanted a job then he could be my slave. But if he wanted to be master again i think i would do a joint partnership. We could both be masters. But he would be a master slave.
May 17th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
That one was brett, and this is me again. I think that Bianco wont change but the suitors will change which will cuase her not to like them. Either way its a loss loss situation.