Betrayal In Taming Of The Shrew

Even the strongest and largest stones can be weathered away into just sediments given enough pressure and time. In The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare, the formidable and feared Katherine Minola meets her match in the vivacious and obstinate Petruchio. With wealth and fame in mind, Petruchio forces Katherine to marry him and attempts to conquer her throughout the story. Initially, Katherine maintains her stubborn behaviour and, at times, even resists Petruchio. However, as the story goes on, she gradually becomes more relenting to Petruchio’s demands. Though some attribute Katherine’s eventual obedience and amiability to her love for Petruchio, her newfound pleasantness is actually a result of his antics to guilt her and wear

After their marriage, Katherine continues to reject and oppose Petruchio’s will. To combat and suppress Katherine’s resistance, Petruchio uses threats to trap Katherine in situations that would humiliate her if she defies him. For example, in Act 4 Scene 5, after Katherine denies Petruchio’s ridiculous claim that the moon, not the sun, is up, Petruchio says “Now by my mother’s son, and that’s myself, It shall be moon, or star, or what I lost, Or e’er I journey to your father’s house. Go on, and fetch our horses back again. -Evermore crossed and crossed, nothing but crossed” (4.5.117-120). Essentially, Petruchio is not allowing Katherine to leave until she admits that he is right. Petruchio begins his trap for Katherine by first targeting the most apparent facts, then claiming otherwise to provoke her into denying him. In this instance, he claims that the moon is up when it is obvious that it is the sun in the sky. Petruchio recognizes that he has much less to lose than Katherine for not showing up to the wedding, and he uses it as leverage against her. With the leverage, he is able to force her to agree with him even on the most foolish fallacies. By repeatedly snaring Katherine in battles that she cannot resist or win, he is able to wear her down. After Petruchio threatens to turn back in Act 4 Scene 5, Katherine yields and says, “Forward, I pray, since

They claim that Katherine develops affections of appreciation and respect for Petruchio as the play goes on. Moreover, they associate Katherine’s newfound amiability and endearment to her recognition of Petruchio 's hardwork in providing for her and improving her personality. In fact, throughout the play, Katherine subtly conveys her love through slight gestures of devotion, finally manifesting all of her care for Petruchio in her final speech. After Bianca and the Widow refuse to return to their husbands in Act 5 Scene 2, Katherine’s begins her monologue, saying, “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign. One that cares for thee, And for thy maintenance commits his body to pain labor both by sea and land…Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe” (Shakespeare 5.2.163-167). Katherine essentially explains that, in their time, their husbands are vital, strenuously working to provide while the women merely reap the benefits. Those who believe that Katherine actually loves Petruchio contrast her initial disparagement toward him to her open praise for him in her end speech. Katherine’s devotion and love for Petruchio is also shown because of her capacity to praise Petruchio in front of everyone. It is important to realize that Katherine is referring to Petruchio when she mentions “thy