LA

“ ‘My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart, concealing it, will break...’ ” (4.3.82-83). Could a woman this fierce become domesticated into her husband’s obedience? In Shakespeare's comical frame play, the “shrew” metamorphoses into a tamed falcon. The barbaric shrew represents Katherine, the sharp-tongued daughter of Baptista, who is changed unpredictably by an isodynamic character. Throughout the exposition, the climax, and the resolution, Katherine is shown as a dynamic character that undergoes changes in her values as well as her behavior.

Presented at the exposition, Katherine’s character is displayed as a stubborn, feral woman. She binds her sister to interrogate her on the most favorable suitor; when she refuses to respond, she needlessly strikes her. Plus, when she is confronted with one of Bianca’s suitors, Hortensio, she lashes out on him after he expressed that he was uninterested in her. She distastefully tells him, “ ‘I'faith, sir, you shall never need to fear. Iwis it is not halfway to her heart. But if it were, doubt not her care should be to comb your noddle with a three-legged stool and paint your face and use you like a fool’ ” (1.1.62-66). In addition to her wild behavior, she also stubbornly refuses to obey her father’s orders to stay with the suitors and leaves on her own accord. “ ‘Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not? What, shall I be appointed hours as though, belike, I knew not what to take and what to leave? Ha!’ ” (1.1.104-106). However, a suitor seeking the wealth of her dowry tries to woo Katherine, but his efforts are futile. While exchanging puns meant as insults, Petruchio, the suitor, takes an unexpected move and praises her. Despite his romantic attempt, she reacts bitter...

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Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,

And place your hands below your husband’s foot:

In token of which duty, if he please,

My hand is ready, may it do him ease (5.2.186-195).

From beginning to end, Katherine dramatically contrasts and proves to be, ironically, the most domesticate wife out of three.

In the end, Katherine concludes the play as the acquiescent wife of Petruchio in place of the vile woman in the beginning. The massive change is due to Petruchio, who tamed the wild shrew into a domesticated falcon. Throughout the humorous play, Katherine undergoes major alterations in her behavior, making her a dynamic character. As ironic as it seems, the most vicious woman who is thought to be indomitable becomes the ideal image of a domesticated wife.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2009. Print.