How Does Katherina Change In The Taming Of The Shrew

In William Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, Katherine transforms from a shrew to a conformable wife because of Petruchio’s taming process. At the end of the play, Katherine acts as an obedient wife because she changes her ways. Starting to change, Kate’s attitude and behavior improve since she starts to show kindness. Kate behaves as a shrew at the beginning of the play because she disrespects the people around her.
In the beginning of the play, Katherine resembles a shrew due to her rude remarks and actions towards others. For example, Kate builds up jealousy and ties up Bianca then strikes her. Questioning with envy Kate asks, “Of all thy suitors here I charge [thee] tell whom thou lov’st best. See thou dissemble not” (2.1.8-9). Kate reflects a

shrew since she hits her sister simply because of the many suitors wanting to marry her and not Kate. In addition, Katherine slaps Hortensio over the head with a lute because of her small patience with others. With her short temper, Kate becomes impatient and decides that hitting people solves the problem. Lastly, Katherine banters with Petruchio as they exchange rude puns with each other. This displays Kate behaving as a shrew because she says rude comments and argues with him. Overall, Katherine acts as a shrew because of her impolite actions, but starts to change her behavior and attitude.
After marrying Petruchio, Katherine begins to change her shrew ways into a politer manner because her behavior slightly improves. For example, Petruchio blames and hits Grumio for Kate’s horse falling onto her, but she stands up for Grumio. Unlike her normal behavior, Kate shows small improvements by defending Grumio instead of treating him with disrespect. Second, Petruchio calls for one of his servants to bring him water but the servant accidentally spills the refreshment and Petruchio overreacts and therefore yells and strikes the servant. Politely telling Petruchio to calm down Katherine states, “Patience, I pray you, ‘twas a fault unwilling” (4.1.153). Due to the serval tests Petruchio gives her, she starts to notice that the servant did not intentionally spill the water and remains calm. Lastly, Petruchio starves Kate but then he gives her food, but before he serves her the food he makes her thank him and she follows. Showing signs of change, Kate thanks Petruchio for the food rather than taking it and not showing any gratitude. In conclusion, Katherine’s actions gradually progress as she changes her shrew-like attitude into a more compassionate person.
At the end of Petruchio’s process, Katherine starts to show more of a change from a shrew into a more caring and understanding wife.

For instance, Petruchio expresses to Katherine that the moon looks beautiful but she knows his mistake and goes along with what he says. Following with what Petruchio says and no longer questioning him she states, “But sun it is not, when you say it is not, and the moon changes even as your mind. What you will have it named, even that is, and so it shall be for Katherine” (4.5.22-25). Katherine corrects Petruchio when he changes his mind about the moon and the sun but she listens to what he says after he tells her once. In addition, Petruchio makes a bet with Lucentio and Hortensio to see which wife will come to them first, and shockingly Katherine obeys his call to her. Surprisingly, she follows what he asks her to do without complaining or getting mad. Lastly, Katherine shares with Bianca and the widow what they need to do to become a good wife. This shows that she changes because she learns how others should treat their husbands and how she should act towards Petruchio. To conclude, Kate understands how to behave as an obedient wife and enhances her attitude with

others.
In William Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio converts Katherine from a shrew to a conformable wife due to his taming process. At the beginning of the play, Kate starts acting like a shrew but then begins to change after several of Petruchio’s tests. In the end, Kate reshapes herself from a rude and aggressive person into an obedient spouse. Kate learns that she receives what she wants when she acts with kindness, but she later realizes she should show unselfishness for the right reason instead of doing it for herself. In conclusion, Kate understands the importance of behaving nicely and noticeably changes her attitude so she can become a proper wife to Petruchio.