Synthesis Of The Taming Of The Shrew English Literature Essay

Published Date: 23 Mar 2015

"The Taming of the Shrew" is one of the most renowned plays written by William Shakespeare. The writer raises a number of important themes in the course of the play, which he uncovers and depicts in details, in their full complexity. In such a way, the writer attempted to mirror the real life and to show the audience that human relations are extremely complex and often people cannot always decide what can happen to them in their life. In this regard, the theme of love is particularly noteworthy because "The Taming of the Shrew" shows the great strength, the power of love over human beings. As the matter of fact, William Shakespeare proves that people cannot resist to love and to prove this point he develops the severe struggle between the love and strength of human mind in the hidden love struggle between Kate and Petruchio in his "The Taming of the Shrew". In such a way, William Shakespeare attempts to show that, even though people can resist loving, they still cannot win the struggle against love because strong feelings, such as love, always win and overwhelm people.

From the beginning of the play, it seems to be obvious that the main character will never give in and she is determined to avoid loving and marrying:

"I 'll not budge an inch". Taming of the Shrew Quote (Induction, Scene I)

Nevertheless, such a position of the main character is challenged by the love of other characters, including Petruchio, who cannot resist his strong feelings and he cannot help from loving Kate. His passion grows stronger in the course of the play and he is ready to do anything to reach his goal and to gain the positive response from his beloved. On the other hand, William Shakespeare shows that Petruchio has to pass a long way to reach his love and to win the heart and soul of his beloved.

Nevertheless, in his love to Kate, Petruchio is ready to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his beloved:

There's small choice in rotten apples. The Taming of the Shrew Quote Act i. Scene 1. 

In fact, he has no choice but go until the end to win the positive response from Kate, whom he adores. At the same time, this way is the way of struggle, where:

Nothing comes amiss; so money comes withal. The Taming of the Shrew Quote Act i. Scene 2. 

In such a way, "The Taming of the Shrew" is the play, where love is closely intertwined with the struggle. To put it more precisely, the love is the struggle itself. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that William Shakespeare depicts both the internal struggle within the main characters who love and who cannot help from loving and the external struggle between the main characters, whose feelings change from indifference and even hatred to love and admiration.

At the same time, while depicting this love struggle, William Shakespeare is quite ironic:

Tush! tush! fear boys with bugs. The Taming of the Shrew Quote Act i. Scene 2. 

In such a way, the writer shows that there are trifles which may wreak havoc in the main characters and they can make them feel fear and panic. However, their love defeats any manifestation of fear, any obstacle that arises on the way of the main characters to their love and personal happiness.

At the same time, William Shakespeare shows that the way to love and to win in the struggle for love is long and difficult:

Who wooed in haste, and means to wed at leisure. The Taming of the Shrew Quote Act iii. Scene 2. 

Thus, the writer shows that the main character should not be in a hurry to win their love. In stark contrast, they should have patience to wait and keep on struggling until they win their love. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the struggle of the main characters lasts practically till the end of the play:

And thereby hangs a tale. The Taming of the Shrew Quote Act iv. Scene 1.

Even at the end of the story, the author attempts to hint that the main characters may have troubles in their love. Therefore, William Shakespeare apparently attempts to convey the idea that love is the permanent struggle that never ends. Even when the main characters win their love, they still have to carry on their struggle:

"Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges". - (Act V, Scene I).

In such a way, "The Taming of the Shrew" reveals the full extent to which love is closely intertwined with the struggle. On the other hand, it is quite natural that William Shakespeare depicts love as a sort of turbulent struggle between the main characters as well as the internal struggle within the main characters. William Shakespeare is, to a significant extent, admired with this struggle and makes love the main stimulus that makes people change their life and carry on their struggle in spite of all the obstacles they encounter in the course of the play. In fact, the love and struggle are inseparable and they are as natural as rain:

"For the rain it raineth every day". - (Act V, Scene I).

Hence, William Shakespeare proves that his main characters do love each other but they had to pass a long way to understand that they did love each other and nothing can stop them in their strong feeling.

Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare is a remarkable play that reveals the controversy and strength of the love. What is meant here is the fact that William Shakespeare shows the great power of love over people but the main characters of the play have to struggle over and over again to win the love and to win the heart of their beloved. At the same time, their struggle makes them closer to each other and increases the value and significance of their love. Eventually, they understand what love actually is and that they cannot live without loving each other.