Simply Misunderstood

Simply Misunderstood
A shrew can be used to describe usually cold women who have a violent temper and words. Shakespeare describes a shrew though a rich merchant’s daughter, Katherine Minola in the play, The Taming of the Shrew, set in Padua, a prominent Italian city during the Renaissance. Katherine, or Kate, is well known in Padua as the Shrew. Kate falls under many characteristics of a shrew, she is very violent and she insults everybody she meets. The reason for Kate’s “shrewish” behavior is very cryptic from the start of the play but between the lines, the reason becomes quite clear. Kate may portray “shrewish” behavior because she is misunderstood, is very blunt and spears the ugly truth; and though adhering to this role, she enjoys temporary satisfaction but is also feared and rejected. Shakespeare injects the character Katherine with the characteristics of a man, but with the potential of being tamed.
Kate is portrayed as a shrew because she is ultimately misunderstood. From the start of the play, Kate does not make any sort of grand entrance but is introduced by Bianca’s suitors, a secondary source. Kate is described by Hortensio and Gremio as a devil and worse than hell.   Gremio states,” Though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?” (1.1.126-127). That description creates a first impression that Kate really is a devil, but in truth is not. Kate is a very intelligent woman who is misunderstood as hating men because she curses and is violent towards men. Kate is disregarded as a shrew because she doesn't fit neatly into the social role prescribed for upper-middle class women in the 16th, who are portrayed as quiet, obedient and husband pleasing. Kate is more of an independent woman who wants a husband that accepts her, not to be an object for pleasing men. Her own father even treats her with the same regard by saying, “If either of you both love Katharina, because I know you well and love you well, leave shall you have...