Ending of The Taming Of The Shrew A Happy Ending For Kate?
Is The End Of The Taming Of The Shrew A Happy Ending For Kate?
Throughout the play Kate has been known as a 'shrew', and 'curst' but although she puts on strong front she wishes inside that things were different. In Act 2 Scene 1 she has Bianca tied up because she is receiving all the attention from the suitors,
'Of all thy suitors here I charge thee tell
Whom thou lov'st best. See thou dissemble not.'
From this we know that she wants to be noticed and not put aside and that she does want a husband for herself. So far all of her suitors have been weaker men who were fearful of her but what she really wants is a strong man who stands up to her and is not afraid to speak his mind. In steps Petruchio to fill the gap.
When Kate first meets Petruchio she expects him to be the same as all the others so once again she puts up her harsh front to put him off but as we see it doesn't work. Petruchio begins to compliment Kate no matter how negative Kate is,
'But Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom,
Kate of Kate-Hall, my super-dainty Kate-'
This does not impress Kate, but his strong nature does. Petruchio seems to have an answer to every insult Kate gives him. He is not bothered by how bitter she is because he can also ways come back with a clever retaliation which draws Kate further towards him,
Petruchio: ' Thou has hit it. Come sit on me.
Kate: Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
Petruchio: Women are made to bear, and so are you.'
Their first conversation intrigues Kate and makes her think that maybe Petruchio is different from all of the other suitors. He does not get angry or upset at the way she treats him but instead just takes it on the chin. After their fight, Petruchio is content with Kate and so discusses marriage with Baptista who is delighted to have finally found a husband for her troublesome daughter. Kate is most displeased at this point and shows it by arguing with her father,...