What Is Kate Change In The Taming Of The Shrew

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In William Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, one follows an intricate play within a play of two sisters in a dilemma. The younger sister, Bianca cannot marry one of her many suitors until her older, brash sister Kate who is considered a shrew. Bianca's suitors then find a man to marry Kate, so that they may have a chance at Bianca. Throughout the play, one can see Kate undergo a change in her behavior and attitude, therefore making her a dynamic character. In the beginning of the play, Kate is shrewish, easily angered, and aggressive. In Act I, one of Bianca's suitor's, Gremio, told Kate no man wants to court her until she improves her temper, to which Kate replies, "But if it were, doubt not her care should be to comb your noddle …show more content…

In Act III, after the wedding, Petruchio wants to leave the feast, Kate firsts asks him to stay, then begs by saying, "Now, if you love me, stay" (Shakespeare 1570), then ranting and being defiant after that doesn't work. In this instance, Kate's first response was to ask politely. When that doesn't work, she then begs or bargains by saying Petruchio should stay, if he loves her. This demonstrates a change in Kate, as her initial response was not in anger or malice, nor was it her second, but it was in respect and politeness. Of course, she doesn't automatically change her ways because she gets married, so the shrewish behavior still makes an appearance when she doesn't get her way. However, the amount of time it took her to reach that level, especially compared to previous rages, is significant in showing how Kate slowly is becoming calm. In Act IV, Kate continues to reveal other emotions than anger, pride, and defiance. Petruchio strikes a servant for spilling water, so she says, "Patience, I pray you; 'twas a fault unwilling" (Shakespeare 1760). Kate has been violent in random anger as shown before with Bianca. When Kate saw Petruchio abuse a servant for a silly mistake, she asks him to relax because it was an accident. In this instance, she is empathetic and appalled at the violence. This is ironic as she was not appalled to the violence when she was

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