In William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, Kate and Petruchio are seen as equal sparing partners. They are both smart, cunning individuals who make a rather comical pairing. However, by the end of the novel, Shakespeare has indeed, tamed the shrew and Kate is no longer the quick to judge, angry girl we see in the beginning of the novel.
Although Kate’s character progresses in various directions throughout The Taming of the Shrew, Kate ultimately becomes an obedient wife to Petruchio. Kate’s final speech in the novel addresses many key areas of her final transformation. In the beginning lines, Kate addresses the fact that disobedience makes a woman ugly. Here Kate says “And dart not scornful glances from those eyes To Wound thy lord, thy kind, thy governor. It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,” (219). This expression is addressed to the group of woman who did not come when called by their husbands. Kate is arguing that disobedience and the “scornful glances” make the woman unattractive. She continues on to express how unpleasing angry women are. “A woman moved is like a fountain troubled,” 219). This expression shows that a woman who is angry is like a muddy, unused water hole. Such a woman can not be seen for her beauty in the eyes of viewers.
The introduction of Kate’s speech is very focused on the ugliness of anger and disobedience. However, quickly Kate turns the cards and addresses wit and cunning. Kate speaks to the women and tells them that their lack of obedience to their husbands is foolish on their part. Kate says, “And not obedient to his honest will, What is she but a foul contending rebel and graceless traitor to her loving lord?” (219). Although this line addresses grace as a form of beauty, Kate’s focus is on the foolishness associated with disobedience to a loving and caring husband. Throughout The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio is supposed to be seen as the soul provider of their family, and as such he has earned the respect of his wife. In “A Homily of the State of Matrimony,” the various reasons for marriage are reviewed. It is stated that marriage “does not emphasize pleasure or happiness as a reasons to marry,” (171). This philosophy holds true in The Taming of the Shrew. At no point in Kate’s address to the other women does she address the fact that obedience is due because of love. Kate in fact never uses the word.
Strangely enough, Kate brings God into the mix when she says “Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,” (221). Kate is telling her listening ears that God has created women (in their essential form as soft and smooth) to be looked after by their husbands. Had God intended woman to care for themselves or provide for their families through various chores and hard labor, he would have made their bodies more conducive to work. This ideology is repeated in “A Homily of the State of Matrimony.” In “A Homily of the State of Matrimony,” it is said “For the woman is a weak creature, not endued with like strength and constancy of mind,” (174). There are many similarities in philosophy seen between the Homily and The Taming of the Shrew. The ideas and values of the 1600s are clearly noted and supported throughout various works of the time period.
In Kate’s final act of obedience she places her hand under the foot of Petruchio, “And place your hands below your husband’s foot,” (221). This puts him in the position to step on her if he so chooses and she knows this, as she says “My hand is ready, may it do him ease,” (221). In this scene, Kate is entirely at the will and whim of her husband. This act shows her as confident of his care and trusting of her position within the relationship.
Although Shakespeare initially creates Kate as a shrew and hateful woman, he is able to progress her character to much more. Kate in essence because the ideal wife and is found to be preaching to what once would have been the choir. Through the finale speech in The Taming of the Shrew, it is clear that Kate is in fact, a tamed woman.
