Taming of the Shrew Character Profile

2831 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The taming of the shrew as a comedy

Taming of the Shrew Character Profile

· Romantic comedy

Time and place written

· Around 1592, London

Date of first publication

· 1623

Tone

· The overall tone of the play is light and comic, though the

exploration of larger social questions, such as the proper relation of

the sexes in marriage, lends much of the comedy a more serious tone.

Settings (Time)

· Unspecific, though presumably sometime during the Italian

Renaissance

Settings (Place)

· Padua, a city-state in Italy prominent during the Renaissance

Major conflict

· Petruccio's attempt to "tame" Katherine; that is, to assert his

authority in their marriage and overcome her hotheaded resistance to

playing the role of his wife

Rising action

· Petruccio and Katherine's early verbal conflicts; Katherine's many

scenes of shrewish behavior, including her attack on Bianca; the

various disguises and subterfuges of the subplot; Katherine and

Petruccio's comical wedding

Climax

· There is no single moment of intense action in the play, but rather

a long process of development culminating in Katherine's fully changed

behavior. It might be possible to see a climax in the wedding scene in

Act III, or in Katherine's decision in Act IV to submit to Petruccio

when he says the sun is really the moon, or her agreement to throw

shame to the winds and kiss him in the middle of the street in Act IV.

Falling action

· The banquet at Lucentio's house in Act V, scene ii

Themes

· Marriage as an economic institution; the effect of social roles on

individual happiness

Motifs

· Disguise; domestication; fathers and ...

... middle of paper ...

...ass young maidens-in-waiting. At the very least, they are

supposed to occupy these roles-but, as the play shows, in reality,

Kate wants nothing to do with her social role, and her shrewishness

results directly from her frustration concerning her position. Because

she does not live up to the behavioral expectations of her society,

she faces the cold disapproval of that society, and, due to her

alienation, she becomes miserably unhappy

Kate's development over the course of the play is basically determined

by her gradual adaptation to her new social role as wife. She complies

with Petruccio's humiliating regimen of taming because she knows on

some level that, whether she likes the role of wife or not, she will

be happier accepting her social obligations than living as she has

been at odds with everyone connected to her.

Show More
Related

  • Character Analysis: All The Pretty Horses

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    All the Pretty Horses involves many interesting characters in its story. Most of the characters are believable in this story. Many are flat and static with a few being round and dynamic. The characters are complex, with their own histories and personalities driving their actions. There are many minor characters in the story that do not really have any purpose than helping to move the plot along. There aren’t many characters with considerable roles. The protagonist is John Grady Cole and the antagonists are the captain, Jimmy Blevins, and Alejandra’s aunt. The main character is John Grady Cole, a round and dynamic character. He is revealed in the beginning of the story. He is a 16 year old boy and can be described as quiet, serious,

    Read More

  • The Westing Game Character Analysis

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    There was a game. The Westing Game. To find an heir. To win it all. Sixteen players. Eight teams. One winner. Who became the heir of Sam Westing. Sam Westing died, or supposedly did, and his sixteen heirs were trying to figure out who killed him, or if he was killed at all, which we found out, later in the novel was true. All of the teams had different clues, and they tried to figure out what those clues meant. In the mystery novel, The Westing Game, written by Ellen Raskin, the elements that were mysterious were: the main conflict, setting, characterization, and the technique the author gave clues to the reader.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: The Other Wes Moore

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Other Wes Moore, the author and a neighbor have the same name, Wes Moore, and they both begin their lives in similar ways. However, as their lives progress, they begin to part. For example, both “lost” their fathers when they were young. Because of the way their mothers respond to this loss, the boys’ lives begin to separate. Both mothers have different responses to challenges in general, which eventually leads them to respond to their child’s actions in contrasting ways. Throughout this novel, readers learn that depending on how a mother decides to react to the negative actions of their child’s actions, the child can either lead a successful life or lead a life of failure.

    Read More

  • Once And Future King Character Analysis

    426 Words  | 1 Pages

    In T.H. White's Once and Future King, fate plays a very important role in Arthur's life when he meets Merlyn and Merlyn becomes his mentor. When they first met, Arthur was confused as to why Merlyn was going all the way home with him until Merlyn said, "Why not? How else can I be your tutor?" (37) Arthur realizes he had been on a quest to find his tutor. This quote is important to the theme because it was Arthur's first quest on his journey towards king. This reason this quote is so important is because Merlyn is preparing Arthur to become a great leader. After all of Arthur's training with Merlyn, Merlyn tells Arthur that he might not know it yet but he will be, "Hic jacet Arthutus Rex quandum Rexque futurus... The Once and Future King." (287) This quote foreshadows that Arthur, will in fact, become the great leader. If it were not for training with Merlyn, he would not be the great leader he developed into throughout the book.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the reader has the experience to understand what it was like to live in an insane asylum during the 1960’s. Kesey shows the reader the world within the asylum of Portland Oregon and all the relationships and social standings that happen within it. The three major characters’ groups, Nurse Ratched, the Black Boys, and McMurphy show how their level of power effects how they are treated in the asylum. Nurse Ratched is the head of the ward and controls everything that goes on in it, as she has the highest authority in the ward and sabotages the patients with her daily rules and rituals. These rituals include her servants, the Black Boys, doing anything she tells them to do with the patients.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: The Other Wes Moore

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his” (Moore, 2011). This quote perfectly describes the book The Other Wes Moore. This book was a story about two people who have the same name and grew up in similar environments, but had very different lives. The author of the book, Mr. Moore, became successful and was given the opportunity to receive “one of the most prestigious academic awards for students in the world” (Moore, 2011). On the other side of the spectrum, the other Wes Moore “will spend every day until his death behind bars for an armed robbery that left a police officer and a father of five dead” (Moore, 2011). Mr. Moore decided to contact the

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    AP English Literature and Composition MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title: A Raisin In the Sun Author: Lorraine Hansberry Date of Publication: 1951 Genre: Realistic Drama Biographical Information about the Author Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930. She grew up as the youngest in her family. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a real estate broker.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Betrayal

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Shakespearean play of Hamlet captures the audience with many suspenseful and devastating themes including betrayal. Some of the most loved characters get betrayed by who they thought loved them most. The things these characters do to the people they love are wrong, hurtful and disappointing. These examples lead to the destruction of many characters physically and emotionally. The characters in the play who committed the act of betrayal end up paying for what they have done in the form of death, either from nature, their selfishness, disloyalty and madness. The act of betrayal truly captures and displays the play of Hamlet as a sad tragedy.

    Read More

  • Essay on Taming of the Shrew: Stand by Your Man

    1416 Words  | 3 Pages

    The universal nature of the themes in The Taming of the Shrew,  beg analysis and social critique. This comedic farce, by William Shakespeare, creates an elegant depiction of a modern life and romantic love with all of its masks and pretensions. It is easy to assume the perspective of a psychotherapist while witnessing the drama of Katherine and Petruchio’s love affair unfolding. Concepts like “emotional repression” and “therapeutic catharsis” neatly fit the “taming” scenario. In fact, this play offers many new insights into what it takes to create an enduring, viable marriage—if one understands it from a very contemporary, psychotherapeutic or even spiritual point of view. If one is distracted by the recent feminist perspectives of this play, it is easy to miss the integrity and practicality expressed in Katherine’s final exhortation to women on how to love their men:

    Read More

  • Sir Lancelot Character Analysis

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    How would you describe Sir Lancelot? Most people would say he is the strongest, bravest, and kindest knight of the round table. Some might say he is the biggest Benedict Arnold of all time because of the adultery he committed with Queen Guinevere. However, his chivalry and code of honor make him the epitome of a true gentleman. These contrasting qualities set Sir Lancelot apart from all the other knights and characters in the “Morte D’Arthur.” Lancelot’s gallant, courageous, and conflicting personality make him a complex character in this dramatic tale of love and betrayal.

    Read More

  • Nonconformism In Tuesdays With Morrie

    386 Words  | 1 Pages

    Morrie Schwartz knew he only had a few months to live after getting diagnosed with ALS. But instead of mourning and drowning in his own self pity, he decided to share his knowledge and experiences that he’s gained throughout his life, and inspire others. The novel Tuesdays with Morrie shows that Morrie Schwartz rejects some of the socially acceptable practices of popular culture. Morrie illustrates his nonconformist approach to living and dying by forgiving, accepting, and loving. On the contrary, Morrie says the popular culture is founded on greed, selfishness, and superficiality.

    Read More

  • Taming Of The Shrew Analysis

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, is an embodiment of the context in which the text was shaped, the Renaissance. The Renaissance period was a time of progression, primarily in the areas of art, science, humanism, religion and self-awareness. The Renaissance focused on taking elements of the past including religion, art and science and adapting them to make them better. "Humanists" advocated for the freedom of the individual's intellect through acceptance and celebration. This emphasis on “individualism” however, did not proceed to influence the highly sexist views of the time, which had transgressed from previous centuries and continued through to later centuries. Gender inequality was prevalent, with brides (and females in general) being viewed as merely commodities. Loyalty is presented as an essential quality for all “proper women” and male attitudes towards women are explored through the social repression of female characters.

    Read More

  • Cinderella Character Analysis

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cinderella’s mother passed away and her father remarried a woman who had two daughters from a previous marriage. A few weeks passed and a prince is holding a three day festival and all the beautiful young girls in the town were invited. Cinderella wanted to go but her evil stepmother gave her two impossible tasks to complete before she could attend the festival. Cinderella completes the two tasks with the help of her bird friends and her mother’s grave. Cinderella goes to the festival and she dances with the prince all three days. Finally, the prince has fallen in love with her and eventually they get married. Fairytales and Disney productions threaten gender politics and women’s role by portraying women in certain areas like domestic behaviors

    Read More

  • Act 3 Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Act 3 Scene 3 (the scene following on from the one in question) the

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Harry Potter

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K Rowling introduces her main character, a 11-year old British wizarding student, Harry Potter. Harry is described to have jet-black hair, green eyes, and to be pale, skinny, and bespectacled. While Harry was still and infant, he was responsible for the downfall of a dark and powerful wizard, as a result his name is known to everyone wizarding world. In the novel, despite all the fame and admiration he has, Harry only recently finds out he is a wizard, and that he is famous. Therefore Harry feels burdened and insecure with all the attention he is receiving, and at the end of the novel, he proves himself to be an incredible wizard. Throughout the novel we learn Harry is brave, curious and modest.

    Read More

More about Taming of the Shrew Character Profile

Open Document