Реферат: The Taming Of The Shrew An Critique

points in the play during which she demonstrated her new found domesticated

personality. Firstly, she showcased it by saying what Petruchio wanted her to,

regardless of the absurdity of the statement. In addition to the already

mentioned sun-moon incident, Kate referred to the old and decrepit Vincentio as

a ?young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet’ (Evans 32). In effect,

Petruchio was demonstrating absurdity by being absurd, and Kate responded to his

preposterousness. Another point in the play where Kate displayed her

complaisance was when she came at Petruchio’s call. When one of the men

proposed a wa ger on whose wife will return first when they are all called,

Petruchio responded by raising the bet significantly. He reasoned that he would

wager that much on his hound, but his wife merited a much larger bet (Leggatt

413). Petruchio displayed complete trust in Kate in that situation, and she

came through for her man. Many critics have pointed out that the wager scene is

dominated by reversals: quiet Bianca talked back, while the shrewish Katherina

came across as an obedient wife (Kahn 418). Kate enjoyed winning the wager for

Petruchio just as Petruchio delighted in making (and raising) it (Leggatt 413).

However, Ruth Nevo pointed out that Kate did not only win the wager, but her

speech testifies a generosity worth far more than the two hundred crowns of the

wager (264). Another point that must be made concerning her speech is that she

delighted in reprimanding the other ladies for their unconventional behavior.

She especially enjoyed admonishing Bianca for her unseemly behavior (Dash 835).

A nother instant when Kate obeyed her husband’s outlandish demands came as

somewhat of a surprise after the wager scene. Kate returned with the hat

Petruchio had given her, and he instructed her to take off the hat, which Kate

actually liked. She once again complied in front of the surprised crowd. As if

all of these symbols of her obedience were not enough, Kate showed one more sign.

As she concluded the scene and the play, Kate prepared to put her hand beneath

her husband’s foot, and Elizabethan symbol of wifely obedience (Kahn 419). Kate

truly showed submission, obedience, and respect to her husband in the final