Реферат: The Taming Of The Shrew An Critique

somewhat cruel fashion. Petruchio’s method of “taming” Kate featured depriving

her of the things she had taken for granted and been given all of her life, and

he sarcastically acted as if it was in her best interest (Leggatt 410). In the

name of love, Petruchio refused to let her eat, under the pretense that she

deserved better food than what was being given her (Nevo 262). Similarly,

Petruchio did not think that her bed was suitable for her to sleep in, so his

servants took turns keeping her awake and denying her the sleep that she so

desperately needed. When the tailor brought in what seemed to be a very pretty

cap, Petruchio refused to let Kate have it, despite her incessant pleas to keep

the cap (Legatt 410). Petruchio took the stance that Kate was his property, as

he pointed out in the second scene of act three:

I will be master of what is mine own.

230 She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house.

My household stuff, my field, my barn,

My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything?.

Petruchio’s words left no doubt as to his belief in the patriarchal

marriage system that existed during Shakespeare’s time, perhaps presented in

somewhat of an exaggerated form (Kahn 414).

As tiredness, hunger, and frustration set in on Kate, her wildcat

personality began to weaken noticeably. Because of the helplessness of her

situation, she began to show submission to her husband. When Kate mentioned the

sun in a conversation, Petruchio absurdly disagreed with her and told her it was

the moon. Kate proceeded to agree with him, to which, of course, he changed his

mind back. Kate’s response was that it changes even as his mind, and this was

the first sign of her submission to Petruchio (Evans 32).

Petruchio’s actions were very extreme during the play, but as Kate caught

on to their role playing their relationship improved (Nevo 262). Many scholars

feel that, despite Kate’s submissiveness in the closing scene of the play, she

would continue to be a strong opposition for Petruchio. Her representation at