Interpreting Katherina's Speech in William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

Interpreting Katherina's Speech in William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

Kate’s changes in Shakespeare’s play, ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ are

going to be examined here. I will look at Elizabethan attitudes

towards women and see if Kate resolves to conform to these views or to

retain her shrewish persona. Additionally I will examine Shakespeare’s

use of devices in her final speech (to see whether she is tamed) and

how she is portrayed in Zeffirelli’s film.

Women in Shakespeare’s time were not held in as high regard as men due

to the hierarchical nature of society. At the head of this triangle of

power in the Elizabethan society was God himself. This was because in

Elizabethan times religion played a very important role in the lives

of ordinary people and, interestingly, the Church itself was one of

the most powerful and influential bodies (aside from the King) in

society at the time. Also God was, and most often still is, portrayed

as being male.

On the next rung down from God was the King who was the most powerful

single person in society as it was widely believed that he had been

divinely appointed. So if you went against the laws set down by the

King you were seen as going against the will of God.

The following rungs were occupied by other men of power who were

wealthy or who were in the professions and had a career i.e. law,

medicine and politics. There were no women with any careers any of

these avenues due to their lesser status in society. In the rung below

this there were basically all women, who were seen as their husband’s

property.

This brief explanation is only a rough outline of Elizabethan society

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...ate is married, or even found her

match in Petruchio, she cannot use this weapon as it is in-effective

now and pales to what effect it had previously. The straw could also

symbolize how her will was weakened in the presence of another strong

willed character.

In conclusion I believe that because of Kate’s obvious free will and

ability to make her own decisions I believe that Petruchio must be

seen as one who recognises and respects her wit, sharp tongue and

fire. So Petruchio did not merely tame her but instead he gave her the

confidence to be herself and the ability to shed her shrewish persona.

Petruchio clearly achieved his goal and more by ‘taming’ the shrew

which everyone saw in Kate and they sort of joined In a union against

a society which neither fit into after coming to some kind of mutual

understanding.