Taming of the Shrew: quotes from critics
This study resource is a compilation of publicly available critical commentary intended for
educational use only. All quotes are fully credited to their original authors.
KATHERINA
- Ahmed al-Badrani, 2014:
- “Katherina is transformed from a stubborn character, who believes no one
should control her, to a docile, faithful, wife.
- Through this transformation, Shakespeare portrays one’s capacity to change,
which is an important part of human nature.”
- Mutlak, 2021
- “she was a domineering, rebellious character who did not get along with
anyone in her life, but after her marriage she became the most obedient
character to her husband.
- It is possible that she disguised herself as a weak and obedient character to
convince her husband that he could actually tame her.”
- Not a sincere but rather a deliberate performance, echoing Friedman’s
concept of the play as a “metadrama”
- Shahidullah & Alam: “Katherina's transformation is seen as a result of societal
pressures to conform to prescribed feminine behavior, challenging the notion of
inherent gender identities.”
- reframes her apparent submission not as internal growth or revelation, but as
a strategic adaptation to patriarchal expectations
- gender roles are constructed rather than innate.
- Detmer: ‘Petruchio's methods aim to dismantle Katherina's sense of self, compelling
her to adopt his worldview to survive.”
PETRUCHIO
- Ahmed al-Badrani (2014): “Petruchio as a change agent who is able to transform
Katherina from a shrewish woman to a sensible wife.”
- Garner: “‘One of Petrucio’s admirable qualities is that he has the good sense to see
Kate’s passion and energy as attractive’
- The interpretation of Petruchio as a hero
- J.D. Huston: ‘The first encounter between kate and Petruchio is ‘nothing less than a
psychological rape.’
- Emily Detner:
- “his actions reflect a shift towards legitimizing domination without physical
violence
- the play signals a move towards a "modern" approach to managing the
subordination of wives, emphasizing psychological control over physical
coercion.”
- David Beauregard
- Interprets Petruchio's role through an Aristotelian lens, viewing him as guiding
Katherina towards virtue and obedience.
- suggests that Petruchio's actions aim to cultivate Katherina's character in
accordance with societal expectations.
This study resource is a compilation of publicly available critical commentary intended for
educational use only. All quotes are fully credited to their original authors.
KATHERINA
- Ahmed al-Badrani, 2014:
- “Katherina is transformed from a stubborn character, who believes no one
should control her, to a docile, faithful, wife.
- Through this transformation, Shakespeare portrays one’s capacity to change,
which is an important part of human nature.”
- Mutlak, 2021
- “she was a domineering, rebellious character who did not get along with
anyone in her life, but after her marriage she became the most obedient
character to her husband.
- It is possible that she disguised herself as a weak and obedient character to
convince her husband that he could actually tame her.”
- Not a sincere but rather a deliberate performance, echoing Friedman’s
concept of the play as a “metadrama”
- Shahidullah & Alam: “Katherina's transformation is seen as a result of societal
pressures to conform to prescribed feminine behavior, challenging the notion of
inherent gender identities.”
- reframes her apparent submission not as internal growth or revelation, but as
a strategic adaptation to patriarchal expectations
- gender roles are constructed rather than innate.
- Detmer: ‘Petruchio's methods aim to dismantle Katherina's sense of self, compelling
her to adopt his worldview to survive.”
PETRUCHIO
- Ahmed al-Badrani (2014): “Petruchio as a change agent who is able to transform
Katherina from a shrewish woman to a sensible wife.”
- Garner: “‘One of Petrucio’s admirable qualities is that he has the good sense to see
Kate’s passion and energy as attractive’
- The interpretation of Petruchio as a hero
- J.D. Huston: ‘The first encounter between kate and Petruchio is ‘nothing less than a
psychological rape.’
- Emily Detner:
- “his actions reflect a shift towards legitimizing domination without physical
violence
- the play signals a move towards a "modern" approach to managing the
subordination of wives, emphasizing psychological control over physical
coercion.”
- David Beauregard
- Interprets Petruchio's role through an Aristotelian lens, viewing him as guiding
Katherina towards virtue and obedience.
- suggests that Petruchio's actions aim to cultivate Katherina's character in
accordance with societal expectations.
