"I tell thee, Kate, 'twas burnt and dried away.
And I expressly am forbid to touch it,
For it engenders choler, planteth anger;
And better 'twhere that both of us did fast,
Since of ourselves, ourselves are choleric,
Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh.
Be patient, tomorrow 't shall be mended,
And, for this night, we'll fast for company."
4.1.147-154
This quote is spoken by Petruchio, reveals much about his character and shows how he is trying to "tame" Kate. When the servants serve the two of them overcooked mutton, Petruchio throws the meat because (according to a footnote) overcooked meat was thought to cause anger, and neither Kate nor himself needed any extra anger. In this scene, the meat is a symbol of anger and Petruchio is seemingly trying to prevent any extra anger by throwing the meat. However, Petruchio's actions are ironic because he's really trying to make Kate even more angry by forcing her to go without food for the night. Petruchio's trying to "tame" Kate by being much more vile than Kate ever was. He's making her suffer with the expectation that this will humble her. Petruchio's treatment of Kate is pretty horrible, and it shows that he cares more about having money and a submissive wife than he does about love and commitment.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Taming of the Shrew - Blog #5
"No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced
To give my hand, opposed against my heart,
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,
Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure.
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior,
And, to be noted for a merry man,
He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage,
Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns,
Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed.
Now must the world point at poor Katherine
And say 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife,
If it would please him come and marry her!'"
3.2.8-20
This quote is spoken by Kate because it is her wedding day, but Petruchio has not yet arrived. The way Kate speaks highlights her cynicism and hatred towards Petruchio. Her diction is very harsh and hateful--she calls Petruchio a "mad-brained rudesby" and "full of spleen," both of which convey hatred in her speech. Kate also makes use of harsh sounding alliterations (like "frantic fool" and "blunt behavior") to further emphasize her anger. Additionally, Kate's descriptions of Petruchio as a man who'll woo any woman and then let her down in the end reveals how cynical she is, not just toward Petruchio but men in general. The way she's acted towards Petruchio from the start, along with the words she speaks in this scene highlight Kate's cynicism and distrust for men. The last three lines of this passage kind of led me to feel bad for Kate. She's extremely embarassed because Petruchio's absence is making her look stupid. When Kate laments in her self-pity (saying "poor Katherine" and expressing her embarassment), I feel like she is softening a little because she's not trying to put up her whole tough front. Seeing that hurt instead of her usual anger leads me to sympathize with her a bit.
To give my hand, opposed against my heart,
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,
Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure.
I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior,
And, to be noted for a merry man,
He'll woo a thousand, 'point the day of marriage,
Make friends, invite, and proclaim the banns,
Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed.
Now must the world point at poor Katherine
And say 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife,
If it would please him come and marry her!'"
3.2.8-20
This quote is spoken by Kate because it is her wedding day, but Petruchio has not yet arrived. The way Kate speaks highlights her cynicism and hatred towards Petruchio. Her diction is very harsh and hateful--she calls Petruchio a "mad-brained rudesby" and "full of spleen," both of which convey hatred in her speech. Kate also makes use of harsh sounding alliterations (like "frantic fool" and "blunt behavior") to further emphasize her anger. Additionally, Kate's descriptions of Petruchio as a man who'll woo any woman and then let her down in the end reveals how cynical she is, not just toward Petruchio but men in general. The way she's acted towards Petruchio from the start, along with the words she speaks in this scene highlight Kate's cynicism and distrust for men. The last three lines of this passage kind of led me to feel bad for Kate. She's extremely embarassed because Petruchio's absence is making her look stupid. When Kate laments in her self-pity (saying "poor Katherine" and expressing her embarassment), I feel like she is softening a little because she's not trying to put up her whole tough front. Seeing that hurt instead of her usual anger leads me to sympathize with her a bit.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Taming of the Shrew - Blog #4
"Marry, so I mean, sweet Katherine, in thy bed.
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry 'greed on,
And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
Thou must be married to no man but me.
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates."
2.1.263-274
This quote, spoken by Petruchio, reveals a good deal about his character. After engaging in a witty argument with Katherine, Petruchio finally speaks plainly and basically says "You're getting married to me, whether you like it or not, and there's nothing you can do about it!" Petruchio is determined to marry Kate and tame her fiery character, and he's very confident that he can do this. Additionally, the diction Petruchio uses is very commanding and shows he is decided in his actions and that he is establishing authority over Kate, saying things like "you SHALL be my wife," "I WILL marry you," "thou MUST be married to no man but me." Petruchio is very set on his actions and will not let Kate's difficult personality get in the way, and his determination is especially highlighted through the use of his definitive language.
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry 'greed on,
And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
Thou must be married to no man but me.
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates."
2.1.263-274
This quote, spoken by Petruchio, reveals a good deal about his character. After engaging in a witty argument with Katherine, Petruchio finally speaks plainly and basically says "You're getting married to me, whether you like it or not, and there's nothing you can do about it!" Petruchio is determined to marry Kate and tame her fiery character, and he's very confident that he can do this. Additionally, the diction Petruchio uses is very commanding and shows he is decided in his actions and that he is establishing authority over Kate, saying things like "you SHALL be my wife," "I WILL marry you," "thou MUST be married to no man but me." Petruchio is very set on his actions and will not let Kate's difficult personality get in the way, and his determination is especially highlighted through the use of his definitive language.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Taming of the Shrew - Blog #3
"Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice. And therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
As wealth is the burden of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes at least
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it weathily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua."
1.2.62-73
These words, spoken by Petruchio, reveal much about his character and also highlight his differences from the other characters. In this passage, Petruchio is basically saying that he will marry any rich woman, no matter how difficult, ugly, or vile she may be. Petruchio expresses this through allusions to Greek mythology, saying he will tolerate a woman as terrible as either of these terrible mythological women, as long as she is rich. He also uses a great simile ("...were she as rough as are the swelling Adriatic seas.") to further convey his feelings. When put into context, this passage reveals how different Petruchio is from the other men in the play. For example, Lucentio, Hortensio, and Gremio all want to marry Bianca because they are in love with her, while Petruchio wants to marry Katherine only because she comes with a big dowry. This passage, along with other instances of Petruchio's pompous talk (throughout Act 1, Scene 2), help to piece together Petruchio as a character. From Act 1, Scene 2, we see that Petruchio is a self-righteous guy who's looking for money and is overly confident that he will be able to handle Katherine. Of course, he hasn't even met Katherine yet, so we have yet to see if he's as tough as he thinks he is...
Few words suffice. And therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
As wealth is the burden of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes at least
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it weathily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua."
1.2.62-73
These words, spoken by Petruchio, reveal much about his character and also highlight his differences from the other characters. In this passage, Petruchio is basically saying that he will marry any rich woman, no matter how difficult, ugly, or vile she may be. Petruchio expresses this through allusions to Greek mythology, saying he will tolerate a woman as terrible as either of these terrible mythological women, as long as she is rich. He also uses a great simile ("...were she as rough as are the swelling Adriatic seas.") to further convey his feelings. When put into context, this passage reveals how different Petruchio is from the other men in the play. For example, Lucentio, Hortensio, and Gremio all want to marry Bianca because they are in love with her, while Petruchio wants to marry Katherine only because she comes with a big dowry. This passage, along with other instances of Petruchio's pompous talk (throughout Act 1, Scene 2), help to piece together Petruchio as a character. From Act 1, Scene 2, we see that Petruchio is a self-righteous guy who's looking for money and is overly confident that he will be able to handle Katherine. Of course, he hasn't even met Katherine yet, so we have yet to see if he's as tough as he thinks he is...
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Taming of the Shrew - Blog #2
"Gentlemen, importune me no farther,
For how I firmly am resolved you know--
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder.
If either of you both love Katherina,
Because I know you well and love you well
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure."
1.1.48-54
This passage, spoken by Baptista, is very important because it illustrates one of the central conflicts of the play. Baptista, who is the father of Katherine and Bianca, will not allow Bianca to marry until Katherine, the older of the two sisters, can find a husband. However, Bianca is a more desirable wife than Katherine, who is stingy and rude. This conflict drives the plot of the play because it affects the actions of many of the characters. Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio all wish to marry Bianca, but must all come up with alternate solutions when thrown this obstacle.
The problem posed in the above passage will help to develop the characterizations of Taming's main characters. Much will be revealed about them as the play goes on. For example, Lucentio's desire to get rid of his identity and take up a new persona tells much about him and shows us that he is willing to go to great heights in pursuit of Bianca. Gremio and Hortensio's alliance shows how they are willing to put their rivalry aside in order to overcome an obstacle. Baptista's firm and decided tone in the passage show that he is not going to relent, so the plot and the characterizations of the play will definitely continue to build and develop around this problem.
For how I firmly am resolved you know--
That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter
Before I have a husband for the elder.
If either of you both love Katherina,
Because I know you well and love you well
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure."
1.1.48-54
This passage, spoken by Baptista, is very important because it illustrates one of the central conflicts of the play. Baptista, who is the father of Katherine and Bianca, will not allow Bianca to marry until Katherine, the older of the two sisters, can find a husband. However, Bianca is a more desirable wife than Katherine, who is stingy and rude. This conflict drives the plot of the play because it affects the actions of many of the characters. Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio all wish to marry Bianca, but must all come up with alternate solutions when thrown this obstacle.
The problem posed in the above passage will help to develop the characterizations of Taming's main characters. Much will be revealed about them as the play goes on. For example, Lucentio's desire to get rid of his identity and take up a new persona tells much about him and shows us that he is willing to go to great heights in pursuit of Bianca. Gremio and Hortensio's alliance shows how they are willing to put their rivalry aside in order to overcome an obstacle. Baptista's firm and decided tone in the passage show that he is not going to relent, so the plot and the characterizations of the play will definitely continue to build and develop around this problem.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Taming of the Shrew - Blog #1
"O monstrous beast, how like a swine he lies!
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practice on this drunken man.
What think you: if he were conveyed to bed,
Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar than forget himself?"
Induction, Scene 1, Lines 30-37
This passage, spoken by the lord, basically summarizes the whole induction of The Taming of the Shrew. This section precedes the actual play part of the story, and it's about a lord who sees a drunken man (Christopher Sly) on the street and decides to take him into his house and trick him into thinking he's really a lord. At the lord's house, a group of actors will be performing The Taming of the Shrew, which will make up the rest of the play.
Right now I'm wondering why Shakespeare decided to create this play-within-a-play. It's possible that the outside situation will somehow connect to the story of Taming, or maybe Shakespeare just wanted to create a humorous, lighthearted opening act. Either way, the characterizations of the lord and Sly are very vivid and provide an interesting opening to the play. This passage reflects the characterization of the lord and his light, jokish nature. Throughout the induction, the lord enjoys himself as he watches Sly fight through his post-drunken confusion to "discover" that he is, in fact, really a lord. Because of this, the whole induction is very light and comedic.
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practice on this drunken man.
What think you: if he were conveyed to bed,
Wrapped in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar than forget himself?"
Induction, Scene 1, Lines 30-37
This passage, spoken by the lord, basically summarizes the whole induction of The Taming of the Shrew. This section precedes the actual play part of the story, and it's about a lord who sees a drunken man (Christopher Sly) on the street and decides to take him into his house and trick him into thinking he's really a lord. At the lord's house, a group of actors will be performing The Taming of the Shrew, which will make up the rest of the play.
Right now I'm wondering why Shakespeare decided to create this play-within-a-play. It's possible that the outside situation will somehow connect to the story of Taming, or maybe Shakespeare just wanted to create a humorous, lighthearted opening act. Either way, the characterizations of the lord and Sly are very vivid and provide an interesting opening to the play. This passage reflects the characterization of the lord and his light, jokish nature. Throughout the induction, the lord enjoys himself as he watches Sly fight through his post-drunken confusion to "discover" that he is, in fact, really a lord. Because of this, the whole induction is very light and comedic.
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