Kate’s Soliloquy Essay, Research Paper

Kate’s soliloquy bring about a joyous conclusion to The Taming of the Shrew. The

audience leaves the theatre with a pleasant feeling, glad that such a shrew could be tamed

so well. Kate herself realised the error of her ways, making the men feel confident while

making the women feel safe. Moreover, the audience found the speech to be very sound

and sensible, as the views expressed in the play were extremely popular at that point in

time.

Kate, in realising her iniquitous ways, made the men feel extremely confident of

their status in Elizabethan society, and effectively reinforced their beliefs about their own

strength. Also, Shakespeare succeeds in creating a feeling of safety for the female

audience, as well as in making them feel as through they are accepted for their kindness

to 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 the

Widow), telling them to “Come, come, you froward and unable worms!”. It may also be

said that this play, as well as similar plays of the Elizabethan era, assisted in contributing

to 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, the

audience is left with a proud feeling – proud of the fact that Petruchio tamed such a shrew

so 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 the

stereotypical action figure of today; a character who does the unbelievable effortlessly

and leaves the audience in awe. In the play Petruchio, short after the inception of his

skillful 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 flaw

in the item. he also resorts to keeping Kate as a prisoner in his home, until she slowly

becomes subservient and submissive to him. Petruchio deftly puts all on the line with his

wager, “And he whose wife is most obedient … Shall win the wager which we will

propose.” Kate’s soliloquy serves as final, unarguable proof of Petruchio’s grand victory

and creates a cheerful mood throughout the audience.

Shakespeare, as a playwright during the Elizabethan era, had the difficult task of

writing plays which reflected the moral values of that time period, in addition to writing

them with humor and wit. With all of the unorthodox events in the centre of the play, the

ending is wrapped up very well; in a way that makes the audience feel very satisfied. the

audience found Kate’s soliloquy very sound and sensible; likewise, they discovered Kate

herself to be quite the same. For instance the statement, “Thy husband is thy lord, thy

life, thy keeper, … Thy head, thy sovereign; …” from Kate’s soliloquy made it obvious to

the audience that Kate had become a much better woman, according to the standards of

the Elizabethan era.

In conclusion, Kate’s soliloquy was most likely found by the audience to be

extremely sound and sensible. Also, Kate herself realised the error of her ways, making

the women feel sheltered and making the men feel self assured about their dominant

position in society. The audience presumable went home contented, because such a

shrew was tamed, and could be tamed so well. Kate’s soliloquy reinforced the moral

values of the Elizabethan era, making the conclusion of the play more enjoyable and

entertaining.