Opposites and archetypes in The Taming of the Shrew
The perfect woman, the perfect villain, the perfect stereotype, all highlighted and discussed in The Taming of the Shrew. Starting with Bianca, she is a very archetypal character; who embodies the characteristics of the Quiet Woman, the Virgin, the Good wife, and the Worthie. To counterbalance her Katherine is introduced, she acts as an opposite to Bianca. Kate embodies the Wanton Woman, the Unquiet woman, and the Effeminate Fool. The two opposite archetypes also correspond to the motif of this story, Hot and cold, opposites that are ongoing throughout the story. The Taming of the Shrew, and all of the characters are shaped heavily by opposites and archetypes.
In many ways, Bianca embodies …show more content…
at the beginning of the story Hortensio and Grumio have a verbal battle where Hortensio remains cool and focused in comparison to Grumio, who is acting like a hot head. Hortensio and Grumio are trying to find a husband for Katherine so they can marry Bianca. Hortensio says “Marry sir, you get a husband for her sister” Grumio replies “ A husband? A devil” Hortensio goes one to say “ I say husband” (1.1 121-124). Hortensio is focused and cool headed wherehas Grumio was being irrational and unhelpful. When arriving at Petruchio’s house after the wedding, Petruchio acts as a hot headed person when Kate has to be calm and rational. The shift in attitude happens when the two sit down for dinner and Petruchio exclaims “Tis burnt and so is all the meat what dogs are these..” Katherine then calmly replies “I pray thee be not so disquiet the meat was well if you were so contented” (4.1 161-169). Petruchio’s fiery temper is balanced by Katherine’s calm temper in this example of opposites. Hortensio and Tranio take different points of view when they discover Bianca has kissed Litio. Hortensio being the angry one and Tranio countering him being happier and calm. While Tranio seems unaffected by the kiss, Hortensio explodes when finding out that Bianca would kiss a mere tutor saying “Would all the world but he had quite forsworn! For me, that may surely keep mine oath, I will be …show more content…
Bianca is based off of the archetype of the “good” woman. Countering Bianca is Katherine, she fits the mold set by the “bad” woman perfectly. Hot and cold was not only the motif of the story but it also featured many examples of opposites. Shakespeare utilized many writing tools to form his characters including stereotypes , archetypes, and
The perfect woman, the perfect villain, the perfect stereotype, all highlighted and discussed in The Taming of the Shrew. Starting with Bianca, she is a very archetypal character; who embodies the characteristics of the Quiet Woman, the Virgin, the Good wife, and the Worthie. To counterbalance her Katherine is introduced, she acts as an opposite to Bianca. Kate embodies the Wanton Woman, the Unquiet woman, and the Effeminate Fool. The two opposite archetypes also correspond to the motif of this story, Hot and cold, opposites that are ongoing throughout the story. The Taming of the Shrew, and all of the characters are shaped heavily by opposites and archetypes.
In many ways, Bianca embodies …show more content…
at the beginning of the story Hortensio and Grumio have a verbal battle where Hortensio remains cool and focused in comparison to Grumio, who is acting like a hot head. Hortensio and Grumio are trying to find a husband for Katherine so they can marry Bianca. Hortensio says “Marry sir, you get a husband for her sister” Grumio replies “ A husband? A devil” Hortensio goes one to say “ I say husband” (1.1 121-124). Hortensio is focused and cool headed wherehas Grumio was being irrational and unhelpful. When arriving at Petruchio’s house after the wedding, Petruchio acts as a hot headed person when Kate has to be calm and rational. The shift in attitude happens when the two sit down for dinner and Petruchio exclaims “Tis burnt and so is all the meat what dogs are these..” Katherine then calmly replies “I pray thee be not so disquiet the meat was well if you were so contented” (4.1 161-169). Petruchio’s fiery temper is balanced by Katherine’s calm temper in this example of opposites. Hortensio and Tranio take different points of view when they discover Bianca has kissed Litio. Hortensio being the angry one and Tranio countering him being happier and calm. While Tranio seems unaffected by the kiss, Hortensio explodes when finding out that Bianca would kiss a mere tutor saying “Would all the world but he had quite forsworn! For me, that may surely keep mine oath, I will be …show more content…
Bianca is based off of the archetype of the “good” woman. Countering Bianca is Katherine, she fits the mold set by the “bad” woman perfectly. Hot and cold was not only the motif of the story but it also featured many examples of opposites. Shakespeare utilized many writing tools to form his characters including stereotypes , archetypes, and