“The Taming of the Shrew” is a play written by the famous playwright William Shakespeare and was first performed in 1590. As the title suggests, the main plot revolves around a bitter young woman named Katherine, who is being pursued by a courtier named Petruchio, a greedy man whose only love is money. Despite Katherine’s disagreeable character, Petruchio aims to win her hand in marriage in order to lay hold of the considerable fortune that is Katherine’s dowry. In the midst of this conflict, Katherine’s, personality is bombarded by the formidable will of Petruchio. After being forced to marry the man, Kate finds herself being tortured with the cruel and ridiculous behavior in which Petruchio treats her. It is not until the end of the story that Kate learns how to navigate her new husband’s unpredictable mannerisms and continue to live with …show more content…
She is absolutely hateful and her venom is no respecter of persons- rich or poor, man or woman- she lashes out at anyone who dares to come close enough. This description seems more fitting to pin on a classic villain of a story, but in “The Taming of the Shrew”, Kate is simply hurt and lonely. Katherine does not fit into the social mold made for the women of her time- she is not the submissive and obedient maiden that society labeled as “ideal.” Because of her assertive and independent personality, men and women alike are intimidated by her; and, as a result, Katherine does not have friends. Even her family treats her formally. This isolation may be the source of Kate’s rage- seeing that people would not accept her for who she is incites a frustration that drives her to a place without mercy. She is not loved, and therefore she will love no one. She elevates herself above others, believing to be superior to all, as to alleviate the pain of rejection. This is the Kate the audience knows when Petruchio makes his