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The taming of the shrew compared to 10 things i hate about you
A comparative essay between 10 things i hate about you and the taming of the shrew conclusion
The taming of the shrew compared to 10 things i hate about you
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In two well put together playwright and film audiences are shown a story of a couple in two differentiating ways. The play Taming of the Shrew and the movie Ten Things I Hate About You explore many of the same characters displayed through a more modern outlook. One character, which plays a crucial role in both the play and movie, is Petruchio. Although he has a differing name (Patrick) in the film, he greatly resembles Petruchio, but likewise, is different in many aspects. The main difference can be seen through Petruchio’s feelings toward Katherine. Each of these similar characters are both in it for the money, but as time progresses Patrick begins to develop feelings for Katherine. Patrick is more interested in learning about Katherine. He …show more content…
learns her likes and interests, whereas Petruchio never cares to learn about her. Money is an object people of society have cherished for an eternity.
The Taming of the Shrew took place in the 1500’s and Petruchio even then was interested in Katherine for the sole purpose of the wealth. He arrives to Padua looking for a wealthy wife and is quick to jump on the first opportunity that comes to him. Arriving in Padua Petuchio states, “Hortensio... If you can find a woman rich enough for me—because money is all I look for in a wife” He then states that he doesn’t care if she’s unattractive, “It wouldn’t matter one way or the other. I’ve come here in search of a rich wife. If I find a rich wife in Padua, I’ll have found a good wife in Padua.” ( Sparknotes: Act 1, Scene 2, Page …show more content…
3) Petruchio is expressing the idea that no matter her personality or her looks, if he has found a wealthy wife, he is ultimately winning. Petruchio’s mindset does not change, and as the play progresses he continues to only be involved with Katherine for the money she comes alongside with. Although Patrick was in it for the money at first, his intentions change the more he gets to know Katherine and he ends up using the money to buy her the guitar she wants at the end of the film. In Ten Things I Hate About You Patrick genuinely begins falling for Katherine. He learns about which bands and books she likes and takes a liking for her interests. Petruchio however, never cares to learn about Katherine or falls for her in any way. He only longs to tame her and show off to the town that he has tamed the so-called “shrew” During Act five Petruchio states, “…but why not put it to the test? Let’s each one send for his wife. Whichever’s is most obedient and comes most readily shall win the bet that we’ll propose.” (Sparknotes: Act 5, Scene 2, Page 4) In this statement he is betting that he has tamed his wife better than another mans, showing this is nothing but a game to him. Although in many ways these two characters differ, they are slightly similar.
Both Petruchio and Patrick are both in way social outcasts. They don’t follow the status quo or fit in with others in their community. Petruchio arrives at his own wedding wearing all kinds of disheveled clothing. “Well, Petruchio is coming in a new hat and an old vest, a pair of old pants turned inside out, unmatched boots that have been used as spittoons, one buckled, the other laced; a rusty old sword from the town armory with a broken hilt and no scabbard.” (Sparknotes: Act 3, Scene 2, Page 3) This quote from the book explains what it was exactly he was wearing. Once Katherines father asks Petruchio to take it off and he refuses, it shows he does not care for others opinions. At Padua High all the students are afraid of Patrick. Many rumors are spread about him, one being he ate a live duck and another that he’s been to jail. This may explain why he so well gets along with Katherine. They are each outcasts but together understand each other for who they are
fully. Petruchio and Patrick differ in many ways, but are also one in the same. Each story has the same plot line written in different time periods but essentially come to the same ending. Petruchio never falls for Katherine and is just in it for the money but the both of them are social outcasts along with Katherine. Patrick takes it upon himself to learn Katherines likes and dislikes, proving his affection toward her. As these plays progress the difference between them become clear along with the similarities.
Different Interpretations of the Relationship Between Kate and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew
William Shakespeare’s comedies Much Ado About Nothing and Taming of the Shrew have a similar theme: they both contrast the stories of a mature couple and an immature couple. In Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice and Benedick, the mature couple, are trying to find the courage to love, while Hero and Claudio, the immature couple, are learning the importance of maturity within a relationship. In the same way, Katherina and Petruchio, the mature couple in Taming of the Shrew, are finding the capacity to love, while the Bianca and Lucentio, the immature couple, are learning that appearance isn’t everything in a relationship. I believe that the two mature female leads, Beatrice and Katherina, have some thought-provoking similarities and differences.
“Then God be blessed, it is the blessed sun, 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 it is,And so it shall be still for Katherine. (IV.vi.19–23) The relationship of Katherine and Petruchio has changed throughout the various adaptations of the Taming of the Shrew. Things such as the motives to the interaction, even the role of love has changed. These differences between these adaptations were not a mistake but made to appeal to a variety of audiences.
A very prominent theme in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is society's double standards of men and women. In the play, Katherina is a very free-willed, independent woman who wishes to follow her own path in life and is not dependent on a man for her happiness. Petruchio is also free-willed, independent and speaks his mind freely. However, where Petruchio is praised for these characteristics, Katherina is scorned and called names. Petruchio is manly and Katherina is bitchy for the same traits.
Ten Things I Hate About You is a 1999 film based upon the play The Taming of the Shrew written by William Shakespeare in 1593. The storyline of these two texts is about a boy named Cameron (or Lucentio in the play) who falls in love with Bianca, a popular girl at his school. Due to her father’s orders, she isn’t allowed to date anyone until her older sister Kat (known as Katharina in the play) does. The trouble is, Kat is the opposite of Bianca - unpopular and not intending to date anyone any time soon. In an attempt to solve this problem, Cameron persuades Joey (both Hortensio and Gremio in the play), a wealthy boy who also has feelings for Bianca, to pay Patrick (or
In William Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio acts as a master tamer by depriving Katherine of her necessities, being a mirror image of her, and making her agree with him. Petruchio displays the qualities of a master tamer by making her agree with all of his opinions. Acting as a mirror image, Petruchio proves he holds the role of a master tamer and will do whatever he wants. In order to be a master tamer to Katherine, Petruchio deprives her of all her basic needs and necessities.
Although the The Taming of the Shrew is frequently regarded as a particularly sexist play, it is not sexist and demeaning towards women. Women’s rights are a household topic that has been around for the better part of the last century in America, however back when the play was written, women’s rights were unheard of. So when Petruchio didn’t let Kate eat or sleep after they eloped (IV.iii.47-48) “The poorest service is repaid with thanks, and so shall mine before you touch the meat.” Petruchio is controlling everything that Kate is doing, which includes whether she eats or not which is sexist nowadays, but back in the 16th century, it was normal behavior.
One author (pattern in carpet) says that Shakespeare sees Katherine and Petruchio as in love at first sight. He says that their fights are partly like a game and partly a matter of egoism. He sees Katherine as “testing” Petruchio making sure he is “man” enough to put up with the worst of her and prove to be the husband she requires. Petruchio accept...
In the play The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, Petrucio recognizes, respects and desires Katherine’s strength of character. Petrucio is a clever man who sees beyond facades because he uses them himself. (II, i 46) (II, I 283 - 89) He is stimulated by Katherine’s sharp tongue and harsh actions. He proves this many times throughout the play.
This results in Luke and Cameron creating a plan to get Patrick Verona, who is known as Kat’s equal, to attempt and date Kat. When Petruchio arrives in Padua and visits Hortensio he states he is looking for a wife, Hortensio mentions Katerina and her father’s wealth and immediately Petruchio wants to meet Katerina’s father to talk about the dowry and wedding. In this scene Petruchio says, “I come to live wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua” (Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 72-73), which shows Petruchio only wants the money and doesn’t care as much for true love. In 10 Things I Hate About You, Patrick is offered money to date Kat, in which he accepts the deal.
Kate who never wanted to show any affection by the end is kissing Petruchio in the street. “Nay I will give thee a kiss. Now pray thee love stay” (Shakespeare Vii 148). Heath Ledger, as Patrick Verona, displays the mysterious charm necessary to make him seem like a rebel. He seems to be only in it for the money in the beginning much like Petruchio.
When someone is a female their first thought should not be weak or nurturing, just as when someone is male their first though shouldn’t always be powerful. Unfortunately it has becomes so ingrained in societies mentality that this is the way that things work. The Taming of the Shrew is a past writing piece that expands on a mentality that is modern. The male gender cannot be put into this same constraint. Petruchio is the epitome of what society would describe a male as. He thinks he is in charge and always the superior to women. He expects Katherine to always do what he tells her to do, because he believes that is her duty as his wife. Moreover he should not be expected to do that for her. Furthermore, Bianca is what many would describe as the perfect woman. She is nurturing and she does not speak out against what she is told. When she does speak she always speaks like a lady. She exists merely for decoration in the home and to serve her husband. Katherine is the inconsistency in this stereotype on femininity. Her purpose in the novel originally is to rebel against this biased thought on female gender roles. Katherine is not afraid to speak out against the things that she is told to do. If she disagrees with something she will act on it and she is just as strong as the men in the novel; which is why many of the men actually fear her. Katherine is not submissive and does not believe that the only reason that she exists is to serve a husband. Katherine does not want to be just the damsel in distress, she wants to be in charge. At the end of the novel there is a switch in the personalities of Katherine and Bianca. This alteration provides the purpose of showing that gender is not something that someone can be confined in just because they were born a female. A woman can have many different traits and still be feminine. It is impossible to put femininity in a box because there are no real qualities for what
The second reason the bond survives is that Petruchio is strong enough to accept the fact that Katherine has a mind and, more importantly, he loves her for that reason. Petruchio cleverly weaves the relationship into the framework of society without compromising the integrity of the relationship. Petruchio does this by comparing Katherine’s attitude to repulsive clothing. Carefully and calculatingly, Petruchio forges a relationship that is envied by all who witness it. Called "cursed Kate" throughout the play, Katherine is openly jealous of the attention her sister is receiving, whereas she, because she speaks her mind, is being bypassed and even avoided in the wooing process.
During The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare has used pleasure and pain in order to tell the story of Petruchio and Katherina’s courtship. This is problematic for modern day audiences, as they do not find the courtship methods that Petruchio employs to woo Katherina particularly comical. However, it could be argued that Shakespeare crafted The Taming of the Shrew precisely for this reason, to feature his views on patriarchy and to make the audience see what was happening through a new perspective. The Elizabethan audience would have been shocked at the methods used in order to achieve the taming, even though it was well within a man’s right to discipline his wife if she was deemed unfit. From the very beginning of The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare indicates that this play will not follow traditional rules of decorum, and that it is intended to both give pleasure and cause pain in order to make both Elizabethan and modern audiences take note of his underlying message.
William Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew illistrates the difficulty of trying to tame a headstrong, stubborn, and a high-spirited woman so that she will make a docile wife. The one attempting to tame Kate, the shrew, is Petruchio. They contend with each other with tremendous vitality and have a forced relationship. In contrast, there is another romantically linked couple who seemingly possess an ideal relationship. These young lovers, Bianca and Lucentio, share a love that is not grounded in reality, but in fantasy. These two sub-plot characters are stock characters and Shakespeare creates the irony of the play through the differences between the two couples. It is through his use of stock characters and irony that the differences between the two couples are revealed.