Shrew Comedic Devices

Petruchio wears the psychological mask of a guy who only has eyes for money. He makes his mask clear to the reader when he tells Hortensio to “wife wealthily” adding “you don’t know the power of gold.” after being told about Katherina’s bad behavior, not to mention her temper. It appears that Petruchio marries Kate for her money, but immediately starts to “kill her with kindness”. He begins going so by depriving her of food and sleep because he claims that neither the food from the kitchen nor the bed is good enough for her. Petruchio puts on a show of bad temper towards his servants for every fault, showing Kate what it is like to live with a bad-tempered person. For the first time in her life, Kate finds herself trying to get someone else to control their anger. Petruchio also shows Kate that she will get the things she wants when she learns to agree with what her husband says. By treating Kate in this manner, Petruchio seems cruel, but there is a reason for it. If he were truly interested only in money, he could have left Kate at home and gone out on his own. In the end, his efforts to improve his wife have worked. He improves Kate’s life, so that she does not continue to live an unhappy life. Because of Petruchio, Katherina the shrew is happily married in the end, and comes to be a good example to

Last but not least, she closes the passage with the rhetorical appeal of pathos; “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.” (5.2.41-44). As she says this, she is fully clarifying that she is a changed woman who is no longer a woman with attitude. She is stating that she is now submissive to Petruchio and respects the ground her husband walks on. She is ready to be a

The first comedic device used in The Taming of the Shrew is family drama. Katherina can’t find a husband she likes, and no man likes her. Bianca is her younger sister and wants to marry but can’t until Katharina does. This puts tension on their relationship and also their father’s. In this line, ““Are you so formal, sir? Well, I must wait. And watch withal, for, but I be

Besides being a well written play, the comedic devices that each act holds is used to help develop the plot and the comedy effect of The Taming of the Shrew. The devices used has shown the audience how the shrew could be changed by receiving the same treatment it has been giving. Shakespeare used comedic devices to help keep the audience focused on the story and keep them guessing to what Petruchio was going to do to make Katharina tame. The plot becomes developed when certain events with family drama, quick-witted language, and unexpected scenarios that take place to create plot twists that no one can foreshadow. All of the materials used above shape a story of how a woman changes dramatically with the help of one man who she undoubted calls her husband without any choice of decision.

When Petruchio and Katherina arrive at Petruchio’s country house in Pisa, readers get a glimpse of the way he treats his servants, as if they were puppets. As Kath’s horse falls and stumbles upon her, Petruchio does not go help her out, however, beats Grumio, for no reason whatsoever. “How he left her with the horse upon her, how he beat me because her horse stumbled”. Petruchio is infuriated to the fact that his servants are not meeting his expectations. In addition, Petruchio, later on, repeats his malicious actions and verbally abuses his other servants at several occasions.

The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is an introduction in the everpresent battle of women to be loving and caring wives, while at the same time holding on to our independence. Its plot is derived from the popular 'war of the sexes' theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming OfThe Shrew.

In "Scolding Brides and Bridling Scolds: Taming the Woman 's Unruly Member," Lynda Boose explains that when Kate puts her hand under Petruchio 's boot it is part of the ceremonial custom when a bride was offered a share of property by her intended husband, but also a physical representation of the marriage vow to love, honor, and obey (182-183). Brides were increasingly indisposed to perform this part of the ceremony is apparent from all kinds of invented fumbling at the altar, for example dropping the rings, when the act of self-abasement was expected (183-184). Boose explains that the ceremonial debasement of women during their marriage ceremony was something that would be easily recognizable to an audience in Shakespeare’s time (184).

Petruchio also manipulates Kate psychologically by pivoting her thoughts in the direction of them being suited to each other for marriage. When he says “I am too young for you” (Act 2 Scene 1, 250), he starts making her feel old and unwanted. This comment makes her mad, and causes her to feel the need to prove that he is old, which she accomplishes in the next line by saying “Yet you are withered” (II, 1; 251). Thus she unconsciously admits that he is at least suited to her in age for marriage, if nothing else. By complimenting her, Petruchio is also able to play with her psychologically. He begins by saying she is beautiful, nice, and modest. Even though he may not mean it, and Kate probably suspects he is lying, it still has a positive effect on her. Complements boost her confidence and make her feel wanted, which is a new experience for her. Such complements eventually lead her to believe that he may actually love her, or that there is a possibility of love between them in the future. This method of manipulation does have its effects, because she only opposes their marriage once in front of her father, and after Petruchio announces that they have decided that she should “still be curst [to him] in company” (II, 1; 324), but they really love each other, she offers no counterarguments.

Women in the era of Queen Elizabeth I were often portrayed through stereotypes such as, “The Good and the Badde” by Nicholas Breton. In this work women have desired traits such as loyalty, obedience, and innocence. Undesirable traits would be just the opposite, disobedience, raunchiness, treachery, loudness, and being outspoken. The play, “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare, plays heavily to these stereotypes with the two female main characters; Bianca and Kate. Whereas Kate plays the Un-quiet one in the beginning, but transitions to more of a quiet one or the good wife while Bianca plays The Virgin.

When Petruchio fails to appear at his wedding, Katherine decides to express her emotions.She describes her shame for being taken advantage of with such ease. Throughout her statement, she insults Petruchio for his depravity, calling him a “mad-brain rudesby” (III,ii,10) and a “frantic fool” (III,ii,12). She specifically criticizes his ability to deceive women into thinking that he admires and long for them, when in reality he is careless of them. Katherine describes Petruchio as a person that is not trustworthy. She argues “He’ll (Petruchio) woo a thousand, ’point the day of marriage… yet never means to wed where he hath wooed” (III,ii, 15-17). Although Katherine is pointing out Petruchio’s negative qualities, she blames her father for her

Katherine continues to tell them that any women who does not obey and follow their husbands then they are 'foul contending rebels'. Katherine’s speech is full of love and respect for Petruchio. Right from the moment she met Petruchio, it is unmistakable that she was intrigued by him, it could even have been love at first sight. They are very similar characters and they express their emotions by arguing and insulting each other but deep down they are in love. There are two explanations for Katherine’s final speech. One explanation is that Kate could be filled with so much love and affection for Petruchio that she will withstand his harsh treatments and cruel tests just to be with him. Another explanation is that Kate has admitted defeat by Petruchio and that she respects him and understands that he is now master. Kate always wanted to be married and at last she has, she is no longer the controller but has a strong husband to look after her and keep her in a her place. Finally the shrew has been tamed and at last she is married, and so it is a happy ending for

The text states “...It’s cheap and nasty...Now, your gown...A sleeve? It’s like a cannon...Ah well, my Kate. We’ll go to your father’s house dressed as we are, in simple but honest clothes. Our purses shall be rich, our garments poor.” (Act 4, Scene 3, Pgs. 4-8). This illustrates Petruchio forcing Kate to wear rags to Bianca’s wedding night, humiliating her. The text states “It’s a disgrace to a man of your social position and an insult to this solemn ceremony.” (Act 3, Scene 2, Pg. 5). This illustrates that Petruchio is late to his own wedding, and is unprepared which is a disgrace to his nobleship. The quotes illustrate that Petruchio humiliates Kate purposely, in which mentally abuses Kate by breaking her shrew-like

Baptista, the father of Katherine and Bianca Minola, treats his daughters in a different manner. He favors Bianca over Katherine. This is seen in the way in which he describes his daughters. Firstly, he refers to Bianca as “good Bianca” (I,i,77). On the other hand, he refers to Katherine as “the veriest shrew of all” (V,ii,66). Baptista’s favor for Bianca is also seen when he catches the girls fighting. He tells Bianca “go ply thy needle, meddle not with her” (II,i,26). However, when he punishes Katherine he insults her. “For shame, thou hilding of a devilish spirit.” (II,i,27-28). To make matters worse, he then only blames Katherine for the incident, claiming that Bianca is always innocent (II,i,29-31). It is evident that Petruchio favors

Throughout the play, Petruchio’s behavior illustrates his chauvinistic mindset to force Katharina into obedience. After the wedding ceremony, Petruchio wants to head home with Kate while she disagrees and he says “I will be master of what is mine own:/She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,/My household stuff, my field, my barn,/My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;” (Shakespeare 52). Instead of treating her like a human being, he speaks of her as if she is an object that he owns and controls. Also, when the newly married couple prepare to leave for Baptista’s house, Petruchio claims that the time is different from what it actually is and when Kate argues, he states, “Look, what I speak, or do, or think to do,/You are still crossing it. Sirs, let ’t alone:/I will not go to-day; and ere I do,/It shall be what o’clock I say it is” (Shakespeare 69). Petruchio is basically saying that the only opinion

Wit is another comedic device that is also used in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. Wit creates laughter through intelligent humour from the characters with the ability to perceive unexpected contrasts and express them cleverly. In the comedy ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ wit is used when Petruchio and Katherina argue over the time. Scene 3 of Act 4 - Katherina: I dare assure you, sir, tis almost two, and twill be supper-time ere you come there. Petruchio: It shall be seven ere I go to horse. Look what I speak, or do, or think to do, you are still crossing it. This quote was used cleverly to create cheeky remarks by the characters, often in the form of sarcasm or simply contradicting another character in a way which is humorous to an audience.