Meaning Of The Shrew

Petruccio uses the word shrew as a replacement for Kate’s name in order to fit her into the cultural expectations of women at the time. Though the word shrew appears in the title of the play, the word itself only appears a handful of times in characters’ lines. Rather than appearing as an alternative name for Katherine, it usually occurs when someone refers to Katherine’s attitude or actions as “shrewd” (1.1.174). One of the only times that the word “shrew” appears in its noun form happens at the end of act 4, scene 1, during Petruccio’s soliloquy. He says, “This is a way to kill a wife with kindness; And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour. He that knows better how to tame a shrew, Now let him speak: 'tis charity to show” (4.1.188-191).
In the definition of a shrew, it says that the wife inappropriately scolds or rails against her husband, which is not necessarily apparent to the audience of this play. For the most part, little is said of Kate’s treatment of her new husband and much more emphasis is placed on his ill treatment of her. Petruccio calling her a shrew for the first time can have two potential meanings. First, by using that name for her in this scene it could show his opinion of her as someone who does not act as he believes a wife and woman should. I argue that his use of this word draws the audience’s attention to the expectations of women at the time and forces them to question the origin of Petruccio's treatment of Katherine. It is unclear whether it comes from his honest expectations aligning with the customs of the time or if he uses this word to echo the label placed on Kate by her acquaintances and family, such as when Hortensio says, “she is intolerable curst and shrewd and froward” (1.2.85-86). The audience rarely sees Katherine acting as a scolding and railing woman, but rather a witty match to Petruccio and a challenger Bianca’s