Taming of the Shrew MOR part 2
I guess Disney has really been stealing from other people for a long time. Beauty and the Beast much? I think it would definitely be a lot easier to watch the play then to read it, it would probably make keeping all the characters names’ straight a lot easier.
I think that Katherine is just scared, and lashes out in fear as a byproduct of that. She’s found one way to keep her father from selling her off to some random man, and boy howdy is she sticking to it. I think she resents Bianca because she represents all that Katherine is actively trying to avoid. She doesn’t have a problem being sold off, and Katherine can’t wrap her head around this. If it weren’t for Bianca being pretty and very willing to wed, there would be no pressure on Katherine to marry, and I think all of her resentment and fear have been channeled towards Bianca, because she is a daily reminder of everything Katherine has to lose. She turns her fear of being traded away like goods into aggression and lashes out at her family. Her actions are not acceptable, but they make sense.
What do you think of these lines? Petruchio seems to be hinting at his up and coming strategies. How will Katherine handle more of it as the play progresses? Also, why did he choose to “tame” her this way? It seems counterproductive when just arguing with her has been shown to work. Hopefully there’s more of that, at the very least it’s entertaining.
PETRUCHIO
Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench.
I love her ten times more than e'er I did.
Oh, how I long to have some chat with her!
…
I’ll attend her here
And woo her with some spirit when she comes.
Say that she rail; why then I’ll tell her plain
She sings as sweetly as a nightingale.
Say that she frown; I’ll say she looks as clear
As morning roses newly washed with dew.
Say she be mute and will not speak a word;
Then I’ll commend her volubility,
And say she uttereth piercing eloquence.
If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks,
As though she bid me stay by her a week.
If she deny to wed, I’ll crave the day
When I shall ask the banns and when be marrièd.
But here she comes—and now, Petruchio, speak.
OK, I'll be honest. I really can't answer your questions without spoiling the play, so I won't. I will definitely agree that Petruchio is hinting at his plans, which are frankly horrifying. I think that we're focusing a lot on Katherine; what about Bianca? Why is she alright with being sold off? Is she just going with the flow, or does she have a brain between her shoulders? How is she going to react to her "tutors?"
ReplyDeleteI foresaw (before reading through the whole play) hijinks with Bianca's suitors and their whole concealed identities thing. Honestly I love that some of Bianca's older suitors are hiring their pwn competitors as her tutors, it's just suck a good comedic element. How are the suitors going to react to this? Are the "tutors" going to reveal themselves?
Also why do you think Baptista went along with Petruchio when Petructio insisted Kate was to marry him and Kate essentially told him to go to hell? Baptista just accepted Petruchio's claim here:
BAPTISTA
Now, Signior Petruchio, how speed you with my
daughter?
PETRUCHIO How but well, sir? How but well?
It were impossible I should speed amiss.
BAPTISTA
Why, how now, daughter Katherine? In your
dumps?
KATHERINE
Call you me daughter? Now I promise you
You have showed a tender fatherly regard,
To wish me wed to one half lunatic,
A madcap ruffian and a swearing Jack,
That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.
PETRUCHIO
Father, ’tis thus: yourself and all the world
That talked of her have talked amiss of her.
If she be curst, it is for policy,
For she’s not froward, but modest as the dove;
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn.
For patience she will prove a second Grissel,
And Roman Lucrece for her chastity.
And to conclude, we have ’greed so well together
That upon Sunday is the wedding day.
KATHERINE
I’ll see thee hanged on Sunday first.
GREMIO Hark, Petruchio, she says she’ll see thee
hanged first.
TRANIO, as Lucentio Is this your speeding? Nay,
then, goodnight our part.
PETRUCHIO
Be patient, gentlemen. I choose her for myself.
If she and I be pleased, what’s that to you?
’Tis bargained ’twixt us twain, being alone,
That she shall still be curst in company.
I tell you, ’tis incredible to believe
How much she loves me. O, the kindest Kate!
She hung about my neck, and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
That in a twink she won me to her love.
O, you are novices! ’Tis a world to see
How tame, when men and women are alone,
A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.—
Give me thy hand, Kate. I will unto Venice
To buy apparel ’gainst the wedding day.—
Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests.
I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine.
BAPTISTA
I know not what to say, but give me your hands.
God send you joy, Petruchio. ’Tis a match.
GREMIO and TRANIO, as Lucentio
Amen, say we. We will be witnesses.
PETRUCHIO
Father, and wife, and gentlemen, adieu.
I will to Venice. Sunday comes apace.
We will have rings, and things, and fine array,
And kiss me, Kate. We will be married o’ Sunday.
Petruchio and Katherine exit
Is Baptista just relieved to finally get rid of her? Does he legitimately believe Petruchio? What is going on here?