Often describes her toPetruccio, he spouts that
Often in literature, parallels are used to accentuate certain things. WilliamShakespeare utilizes this tool in both The Taming of the Shrew and A MidsummerNights Dream. In both of these comedic plays, there is a set of women who areat odds with each other. These relationships can be compared and contrasted indifferent aspects. In Shakespeare’s, “The Taming of the Shrew” therelationship between the sisters Katherine and Bianca appears to be strainedwith rampant jealousy. Both daughters fight for the attentions of their father.In twisted parallel roles, they take turns being demure and hag-like.
Father ofthe two, Baptista Minola, fusses with potential suitors for young Bianca andwill not let them come calling until his elder, ill-tempered daughter Katherineis married. The reader is to assume that meek, mild-mannered, delicate Bianca iswasting away while her much older, aging, brutish sister torments the familywith her foul tongue. Katherine seems to hold resentment toward Bianca. Herfather favors Bianca over Katherine and keeps them away from eachothers’torment. When gentlemen come calling, Bianca cowers behind her father andKatherine speaks up for herself. “I pray you sir, is it your will to make astale of me amongst these mates?” (1.1.
57-58) Bianca and Katherine dislikeeach other feverishly. Katherine torments Bianca with words and physical harm.She binds her hands, pulls her hair then brings her forth to her father and thegentlemen callers. Bianca denies liking any of the visitors and portrays herselfan innocent that merely wants to learn and obey her elders. She says,”Sister, content you in my discontent to your pleasure humbly I subscribe.My books and instruments shall be my company, on them to look and practise bymyself.
” (1.1.80-84) Because Katherine speaks freely and asserts herselfshe is labeled as “shrewish.
” When Hortensio describes her toPetruccio, he spouts that she is “renowned in Padua for her scoldingtongue.” ( 1.2.96) He gilds the lily further by explicitly telling of herfair fortune if suitable man comes courting and wins her hand in marriage.Petruccio sees dollar signs and rushes forth in grand dress and eloquentmannerisms to court the gracious “Kate.
” When he first begins hisritual of winning the family and Katherine to his love, he is seeking hisfortune in her dowry. The mention of her being at all undesirable does not putrocks in his path. He speaks of “One rich enough to be Petruccio’s wife, aswealth is burden of my wooing dance be she as foul as was Florentius’ love, asold as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd as Socrates’ Xanthippe or a worse, shemoves me not or not removes at least affection’s edge in me, were she as roughas are the swelling Adriatic Seas.” (1.
2.65-71) Petruccio comes calling forthe older sister, and Bianca in turn sneaks about with Lucentio who is dressedin scholars clothing. They pretend to be working on Latin and fool her fatherwith disguises and books while romancing the entire time. Katherine is honest inher words and deeds.
She does not wish to be teased or tormented and flees fromPetruccio’s twisted words. Kate and Bianca trade roles at this time and thedainty, controlled sister is Kate. The bolder, out-spoken Bianca woos herLucentio in the courtyard of the Minola home. At the Sunday wedding gathering ofPetruccio and Katherine, the groom grabs the reins of control and demands thathe and his bride leave the festivities before they have begun. He offers Biancaand Lucentio the bedroom and party that they must leave behind. This symbolizesthe transfer of attitude in the two sisters. Kate has to follow her new husbandout of the home and leaves Bianca free roam over the wedding party.
When thesisters are brought together again, it is at the wedding festivities of Biancaand Lucentio as well as the Widow and Hortensio. Katherine is called a”shrew” yet again by the Widow and Bianca flirts openly with Petruccio.The three new brides leave the dining table and make for the sitting room withthe other women. The three men are left to discussion and after dinner music.
Petruccio offers a wager against the thought that the wives in turn should cometo their husbands when called. The Widow and Bianca are foul and refuse to comeseeking their husbands and throw out the servant both times. When Katherine iscalled to come to her husband she does so with grace and quiet obedience. She isthen asked to bring forth the two disobedient wives. During this entire play thelabel of “shrew” is misplaced with dear Kate and should be rightfullyplaced in the lap of Bianca. Kate brings out the two women and scolds them whilemaintaining her own dignity and elegant grace. She shows them that indeed herhusband got the better end of the marriage contract.
At this Petruccio kisseshis Kate in front of everyone and they leave the gaping mouths of the crowd. InShakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, Hermia and Helenasrelationship changes greatly after the intervention of Puck with the lovepotion. Once best friends, they have become each others enemies, and all forthe love of Lysander and Demetrius. Hermia and Helena were best friends whenthey were at school. All school-days friendship, childhood innocence?(3.
2. 201) They had complete trust in each other, telling each other theirdeepest secrets. Is all the counsel that we two have shared, The sistersvows, the hours that we have spent, (3. 2. 198 199) They worked togetheron everything they did including sewing and singing. Both on one sampler,sitting on one cushion, Both warbling of one song, both in one key, (3.
2.205 206) To some people, Helena and Hermia became the same person, sayingthe same things, thinking the same thoughts and having the same morals andprinciples. As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds Had beenincorporate. So we grew together, (3. 2.
207-208) Behaving in the same way,they spent as much time as possible together. This time passed quickly, whilstthe time spent apart was slow and seemed pointless. When we have chid thehasty-footed time For parting usO, is all forgot? (3.
2. 200 201,Helena) Although Helena and Hermia were two separate people, they were, aunion in partition, compared to a double cherry. Two lovely berriesmoulded on one stem.
(3. 2. 211) Their friendship was so strong that theyseemed to be connected, the same person in two different bodies.
So with twoseeming bodies, but one heart, (3. 2. 212) This had lasted all their livesuntil the intervention of Lysander and Demetrius. The strong friendship betweenHelena and Hermia quickly disintegrated when they became involved with the twomen. The love potion was meant to help, but Pucks mistake managed tocompletely reverse the relationship.
When both Demetrius and Lysander were underthe influence of the love-in-idleness flower, Helena believed that bothwere mocking her. You both are rivals and love Hermia And now both rivals, tomock Helena. (3. 2.155 -156) When Hermia seems to take the same attitude,even though she doesnt know whats going on, Helena accuses her ofbetraying all women by entering into it.
Our sex, as well as I, may chide youfor it, (3. 2. 218) Helena and Hermia quickly enter into a massive argument,accusing each other of stealing their love.
You thief of love. What, have youcome by night And stolen my loves heart from him? (3. 2. 283 284)Their childhood friendship is forgotten in an instant, completely torn apart bythe two men. It is not the love potion, which has had this effect on the womendirectly; it is the performance of the two men, arguing over Helena who havecaused the break up. This exhibition of feelings upsets and confuses both Helenaand Hermia. Hermia feels cheated, and Helena is the first person she can find toblame.
O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom, (3.2.282) Helena, however,thinks everything is some kind of cruel trick against her, and remains slightlycalmer than Hermia. Lo, she is one of this confederacy.
Now I perceive theyhave conjoined all three To fashion this false sport in spite of me. (3.2.192194) As she is taller than Hermia, she calls her a puppet.
Fie, fie,you counterfeit, you puppet, you! (3. 2. 288) Hermia takes this insult asthough it is the reason that Lysander doesnt love her anymore. Her height,forsooth, she hath prevailed with him. (3.2.293) She goes on to call Helena apainted maypole and is obviously very worked up and angry.
And with herpersonage, her tall personage, (3 2. 292) Helena is afraid of what Hermiamight do to her, and Hermia is not short of threats in her vicious mood. Howlow am I? I am not yet so low, But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.(3. 2.
297 298) Helena does not want to fall out and does not understand whytheir past was so quickly forgotten. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter withme. I evermore did love you Hermia, Did ever keep your counsels, never wrongedyou (3.
2. 306 308) Hermia, however, feels hard done by. She feels thatHelena has caused her true love to turn against her, and if Helena disappeared,everything would be fine. Why, get you gone. Who ist that hinders you?(3.
2. 317) Helena also has the solution of running away, but cant as shefoolishly still loves Demetrius. Helena and Hermias relationship has changedcompletely, entirely because of the effect of the love potion on Lysander andDemetrius. The friendship shown before the argument contrasts greatly to thehostility afterwards.
The change has been for the worse, completely destroyingthe womens trust in each other, and all because of a fight between two men,caused by a mischievous spirit.Shakespeare
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