o The Taming of the Shrew. Theaudience leaves the theatre with a pleasant feeling, glad that such a shrew could be tamedso well. Kate herself realised the error of her ways, making the men feel confident whilemaking the women feel safe.
Moreover, the audience found the speech to be very soundand sensible, as the views expressed in the play were extremely popular at that point intime. Kate, in realising her iniquitous ways, made the men feel extremely confident oftheir status in Elizabethan society, and effectively reinforced their beliefs about their ownstrength. Also, Shakespeare succeeds in creating a feeling of safety for the femaleaudience, as well as in making them feel as through they are accepted for their kindnessto men, and in the norm. Women, not having a strong role in society at that time,enjoyed receiving praise and encouragement for their purpose in society. Furthermore,they felt vindicated as Kate solemnly insulted the disobedient women (Bianca and theWidow), telling them to “Come, come, you froward and unable worms!”.
It may also besaid that this play, as well as similar plays of the Elizabethan era, assisted in contributingto the oppression of females in society for an innumerable amount of years. After the conclusion of The Taming of the Shrew, including Kate’s soliloquy, theaudience is left with a proud feeling – proud of the fact that Petruchio tamed such a shrewso well. The men of the audience are about with feeling of satisfaction and justification. Shakespeare skillfully catered towards both sexes by using Petruchio much like thestereotypical action figure of today; a character who does the unbelievable effortlesslyand leaves the audience in awe.
In the play Petruchio, short after the inception of hisskillful wooing, begins a plan “to kill a wife with kindness”. Craftily he gives her anything that she pleases, only to swipe it away when he finds a flawin the item. he also resorts to keeping Kate as a prisoner in his home, until she slowlybecomes subservient and submissive to him. Petruchio deftly puts all on the line with hiswager, “And he whose wife is most obedient .
. . Shall win the wager which we willpropose. ” Kate’s soliloquy serves as final, unarguable proof of Petruchio’s grand victoryand creates a cheerful mood throughout the audience. Shakespeare, as a playwright during the Elizabethan era, had the difficult task ofwriting plays which reflected the moral values of that time period, in addition to writingthem with humor and wit.
With all of the unorthodox events in the centre of the play, theending is wrapped up very well; in a way that makes the audience feel very satisfied. theaudience found Kate’s soliloquy very sound and sensible; likewise, they discovered Kateherself to be quite the same. For instance the statement, “Thy husband is thy lord, thylife, thy keeper, . .
. Thy head, thy sovereign; . . . ” from Kate’s soliloquy made it obvious tothe audience that Kate had become a much better woman, according to the standards ofthe Elizabethan era.
In conclusion, Kate’s soliloquy was most likely found by the audience to beextremely sound and sensible. Also, Kate herself realised the error of her ways, makingthe women feel sheltered and making the men feel self assured about their dominantposition in society. The audience presumable went home contented, because such ashrew was tamed, and could be tamed so well. Kate’s soliloquy reinforced the moralvalues of the Elizabethan era, making the conclusion of the play more enjoyable andentertaining.
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