Thesis defense presentation
Transcript: Throughout the book, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, Katherine started off with being the outcast and going against the rules set by society. She had a personality that the majority of men would generally have. As a result, her only suitor was someone who was able to change her to conform to society. Secondary Source Breaking the norm In the book, Katherine is portrayed as a female, who is much more similar to a man than a woman. She is described as ill tempered, confident, loud and aggressive. This was seen from the way guys spoke about her. "Her name is Katherine Minola, Renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue (Act 1, Sc 2, 100-101). Hortensio said this about Katherine in front of Petruchio, to warn him about who she is. This is a topic guys would not usually discuss because the majority of women during the 16th century were well behaved, unlike Katherine. Primary quote #3 The film “I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace; Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway, When they are bound to serve, love and obey.… 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 (Act 5, Sc 2, 177-195).” This was said by her, as she gave up her individualism for her husband. She fell for the trap and could not do anything but obey and turn herself into the person that she never would have wanted, if Petruchio never came into her life. "When a woman, like Katherina, disregarded society's expectations for her and, in essence, acted like a man—she takes advantage of male privileges like speaking freely and doing as she wishes—Katherina disrupts the clearly defined order represented by the chain, and hence, others view her as a threat to order and stability." "Guys were afraid of getting in contact with her because she was out of control... Though after spending time with Kat, he began to form feelings for her. She became less aggressive. She wasn’t afraid to express her pleasure of having him around his life. This was depicted during the scene, which she recited her poem in front of the class, after the dreadful event that had happened a night before. She realized that Pat was the one, that she wanted nothing more but his existence in her life." It only took one person to alter the way she thought. This was meant to be because, they were both seen as a threat towards their environment. Thesis defense presentation Thesis Statement Another way that she fell under the category of an outcast was after the way she acted towards her father when Katherine figured out that there were suitors ready to marry Bianca. "You have but jested with me all this while. I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands [Katherine] strikes her (Act 2, Sc1, 20-21). Katherine showed aggression towards her sister, after trying her hand, while attempting to get answers out of her, she made the decision to hit her as well! This is definitely one of the least favorite characteristic of a woman. She was never soft and she did what she wanted to do. "But when the three bridegrooms square off in a betting contest to prove which husband garners the proper respect from his wife, Petruchio wins. Kate carries out his commands with alacrity as she masterfully drives the outraged "froward wives" onstage—"prisoners," as Petruchio puts it, "to her womanly persuasion." No one dares to interrupt when, in the longest speech awarded to any character in the play, Kate labels the recalcitrant wives "froward and unable worms" and lectures them on seemly behavior. Speaking for the establishment, Kate can at last speak to her heart's content." "People never really expected Kat to accommodate with the guideline of the culture. It took a special person to persuade her into becoming the girl that everyone would adore." Primary Quote #1 Favorite excerpt Conformity Primary Quote #2 Sloan, LaRue. "Individual and Society in The Taming of the Shrew." McClinton-Temple, Jennifer ed. Encyclopedia of Themes in Literature. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2011. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 1 June 2015 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=20591&SID=5&iPin=ETL1022&SingleRecord=True>. Going against the norm