? Explain the Continued Fascination with Katherina in ‘the Taming of the Shrew’

?explain the move fascination with Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew Audiences observe to be hypnotised and relate with Katherina because of the struggles she faces with not naming into a truly concise, social mould. Theres no denying that The Taming of the Shrew is patriarchy at its worst. Shakespe atomic number 18 presents to the hearing Katherina an intelligent, highly stubborn woman who is involuntary to ch whollyenge the sexist patriarchal ideologies of the 16th century. She is subjected to many another(prenominal) things similar verbal abuse, injustice and double hindquartersards, which all(prenominal) resonate with the audience.Katherina doesnt fit into the social convention because she altercates the proper sexual urge roles of the 16th century. We see Katherina challenging sexual activity conventions when she protests against existence toughened like a commodity in terms of marriage which at the time was like a business or financial exploit supposed to b enefit the families involved. Katherina makes it clear at the ascendent of the stand for that she does not wish to be marry to someone merely because of her dowry, much to Biancas despair.In fare 2 pic 1 Baptista agrees for Petruchio to marry her. Katherina is very against the thought process, tress his words, insulting and even striking Petruchio. She is finally take aback to silence when even despite her best efforts to protest, Petruchio deceives Baptista in claiming that Katherina wants to be married to him and she hung ab bring out my neck, and kiss on kiss She vied so fast. Katherina alike challenges gender roles in that she will willingly stand up for herself, which was very unlike any woman of the time.This did not help her case in being a shrew with a loud, ill-tempered personality and a razor-sharp tongue. We see this in Act 1 Scene 1 when Katherina is being openly insulted and ill-use by Biancas suitors and refuses to step down and accept the incident she is be ing called a devil and a annulus. She retaliates with speech that is witty and shreds the suitors com manpowerts, however it was extremely out of the social expend for wo hands. We visualise her challenging the roles of men and women relatable merely because of the age sr. contest of men verses women.Because of the very limited roles women held in this era we find that we begin to appreciate her actions in that she will stand up for what she believes is fair and right, even if it has her portrayed as an outcast. Katherina finds herself ill-equipped for the social mould of the era as she begins to make a mockery of the power struggles not single within marital relationships, alone also within society. Once married, women essentially lost all legal rights and their own identity.This is why Petruchio refers to Katherina as his goods and his chattels by and by their marriage ceremony (Act 3 Scene 2). Katherina hates the melodic theme of not even being able to utter her mind bec ause of her limited power in her marriage. She says in Act 4 Scene 3 that her embrace will break if she is silenced and unable to dribble her frustration about her lack of power and encounter over even her own wardrobe. The play forces the audience to question their assumptions and attitudes about the power dynamics especially in romantic couples, but also with friends and relatives.We can relate to Katherina not wanting to be treated like a commodity or be stripped of her own identity and values because each one of us have felt compact to adapt to somebody elses values. Whether it be at school, radical or in a romantic relationship, phrases much(prenominal) as be a good girl or be a man reverberates with us all and this is what Katherina attempts to overthrow in her relationship with Petruchio. Katherina is compel to deal with injustice, when she is judged and treated with un forthrightness, as a end of her inability to conform to social and gender conventions.The main( prenominal) object of Petruchio marrying Katherina was so that he could have the challenge of taming her. This to the modern audience seems manipulative as if Katherina is to a greater extent like an animal needing to be tamed. As a modern audience we have become remote more sensitive to social injustices, and so as we witness the abusive behaviour and misogynistic attitudes towards Katherina we begin to whole tone almost sympathetic for her misunderstood actions and feelings. It is unfair that the only way Katherina could achieve domestic tranquillity was to conform to how Petruchio wanted her to be.She is never wedded any choice, make-believe that the sun is really the moon and moreover that an old man is really a budding pure(a) just to make Petruchio happy (Act 4 Scene 5). It is clear that as soon as we sate the Minola family that Baptista is clearly more favourable towards Bianca. In Act 1 Scene 1, Baptista asks Bianca to go inside with him and practice her music and boo ks, he disregards Katherina saying Katherina, you may stay. For I have more to commune with Bianca. It is also in this scene that even though Katherina speaks just threesome times, we hear more about her than from her .This speaks of the judgemental and misunderstood temperament that she is subjected to. This fascinates us because as she struggles to overcome this treatment, it becomes very relatable to the audience. The thought of faithfulness has become, to nearly all of us, a given right. For the suits in The Taming of the Shrew to willingly let fairness be blatantly ignored, becomes a fascinating idea to the modern day audience. Even though fairness has become a right, we have all been aim into situations where fairness hasnt always been practised, and so Katherinas plight becomes relatable.Audiences continue to be fascinated with Katherinas character because of the struggles that she faces with not fitting into a very concise, social mould. The Taming of the Shrews audien ce in the 16th century was one that was heavily relate with the concepts of marriage, and so it is only natural that Shakespeare creates a character that challenges all the concepts tied to marriage entirely. Katherina takes things head on when she not only tests the boundaries of the limited roles and expectations of a female, but also wont accept the distinct power roles of a man and woman in a relationship.The play celebrates the quick-wit and strong mind of Katherina, even whilst revelling in her vexation and unfair treatment. Whilst the social conventions have changed since the 16th century, they are still very apparent in our society, and in that respect will always be those who test and slash those widely held standards. One point that is worth considering is whether or not our conventions are shaping our society for advancement, or worse for regression.