Question
ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
from The Taming of the Shrew, Act V, Scene ii, William Shakespeare
The following passage is from the final scene of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. The main character, Petruchio, has married Katherina, whom he has grown to love. Bianca, Katherina’s younger sister, has married Lucentio, and Hortensio has married the Widow. Petruchio bets the two other men that Katherina is now more content and agreeable than their wives. Read this scene. Then, answer the question(s).
PETRUCHIO. Nay, I will win my wager better yet,
And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience.
Re-enter KATHERINA with BIANCA and WIDOW
See where she comes, and brings your froward wives
(5) As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.
Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not: Off with that bauble, throw it underfoot. KATHERINA complies
[Bianca and the Widow both comment skeptically about the foolish request and the “duty” it demonstrates. Petruchio then asks Katherina to explain to the two “What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.” The others protest, but Katherina answers.]
KATHERINA. Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes
(10) To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet or amiable.
A woman mov‟d is like a fountain troubled—
(15) Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee.…
(20) Come, come, you forward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
My heart as great, my reason haply more,
To bandy word for word and frown for frown;
But now I see our lances are but straws,
(25) Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,
That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
And place your hands below your husband‟s foot;
In token of which duty, if he please,
(30) My hand is ready, may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO. Why, there‟s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO. Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt ha‟t.
VINCENTIO. ‟Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO. But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
(35) PETRUCHIO. Come, Kate, we‟ll to bed.
We three are married, but you two are sped.
[To LUCENTIO] ‟Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white;
And being a winner, God give you good night!
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA
HORTENSIO. Now go thy ways; thou hast tam‟d a curst shrow.
(40) LUCENTIO. ‟Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam‟d so.
Exeunt
Which part of this passage could function as an aside, and for what purpose?
Responses
Petruchio‘s claim that he will win the wager better yet; to reveal his inner thoughts and plans
Petruchio‘s claim that he will win the wager better yet; to reveal his inner thoughts and plans
Petruchio‘s request to Katherina to explain a wife‘s duty; to ensure Bianca and the Widow hear him
Petruchio‘s request to Katherina to explain a wife‘s duty; to ensure Bianca and the Widow hear him
Katherina‘s explanation of a wife‘s duty; to share her ideas about marriage with her husband
Katherina‘s explanation of a wife‘s duty; to share her ideas about marriage with her husband
Petruchio‘s request to Katherina to kiss him; to prevent others from hearing him
from The Taming of the Shrew, Act V, Scene ii, William Shakespeare
The following passage is from the final scene of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. The main character, Petruchio, has married Katherina, whom he has grown to love. Bianca, Katherina’s younger sister, has married Lucentio, and Hortensio has married the Widow. Petruchio bets the two other men that Katherina is now more content and agreeable than their wives. Read this scene. Then, answer the question(s).
PETRUCHIO. Nay, I will win my wager better yet,
And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience.
Re-enter KATHERINA with BIANCA and WIDOW
See where she comes, and brings your froward wives
(5) As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.
Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not: Off with that bauble, throw it underfoot. KATHERINA complies
[Bianca and the Widow both comment skeptically about the foolish request and the “duty” it demonstrates. Petruchio then asks Katherina to explain to the two “What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.” The others protest, but Katherina answers.]
KATHERINA. Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes
(10) To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet or amiable.
A woman mov‟d is like a fountain troubled—
(15) Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee.…
(20) Come, come, you forward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
My heart as great, my reason haply more,
To bandy word for word and frown for frown;
But now I see our lances are but straws,
(25) Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,
That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
And place your hands below your husband‟s foot;
In token of which duty, if he please,
(30) My hand is ready, may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO. Why, there‟s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO. Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt ha‟t.
VINCENTIO. ‟Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO. But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
(35) PETRUCHIO. Come, Kate, we‟ll to bed.
We three are married, but you two are sped.
[To LUCENTIO] ‟Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white;
And being a winner, God give you good night!
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA
HORTENSIO. Now go thy ways; thou hast tam‟d a curst shrow.
(40) LUCENTIO. ‟Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam‟d so.
Exeunt
Which part of this passage could function as an aside, and for what purpose?
Responses
Petruchio‘s claim that he will win the wager better yet; to reveal his inner thoughts and plans
Petruchio‘s claim that he will win the wager better yet; to reveal his inner thoughts and plans
Petruchio‘s request to Katherina to explain a wife‘s duty; to ensure Bianca and the Widow hear him
Petruchio‘s request to Katherina to explain a wife‘s duty; to ensure Bianca and the Widow hear him
Katherina‘s explanation of a wife‘s duty; to share her ideas about marriage with her husband
Katherina‘s explanation of a wife‘s duty; to share her ideas about marriage with her husband
Petruchio‘s request to Katherina to kiss him; to prevent others from hearing him
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the provided passage from Act V, Scene ii of *The Taming of the Shrew*, the part that could function as an aside is **Petruchio’s claim that he will win the wager better yet; to reveal his inner thoughts and plans**.
**Explanation**:
An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience or to themselves, revealing thoughts or plans that other characters on stage are not meant to hear. Petruchio's assertion of his confidence in winning the wager indicates his intent to demonstrate Katherina's obedience. This inner motivation can be viewed as an aside because it highlights his cunning strategy and desire to assert dominance within the context of the wager. While presented openly to other characters, this statement serves his own ends and might reveal to the audience his machinations and thoughts regarding Katherina's transformation and compliance.
The other options do not serve the same purpose as an aside. For instance, Katherina's explanation of a wife’s duty is directly part of the dialogue intended for all characters present and reflects her new perspective, rather than an inner thought. Similarly, Petruchio's requests, like asking Katherina to kiss him, are also actions meant to be seen and heard by others rather than private musings.
**Explanation**:
An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience or to themselves, revealing thoughts or plans that other characters on stage are not meant to hear. Petruchio's assertion of his confidence in winning the wager indicates his intent to demonstrate Katherina's obedience. This inner motivation can be viewed as an aside because it highlights his cunning strategy and desire to assert dominance within the context of the wager. While presented openly to other characters, this statement serves his own ends and might reveal to the audience his machinations and thoughts regarding Katherina's transformation and compliance.
The other options do not serve the same purpose as an aside. For instance, Katherina's explanation of a wife’s duty is directly part of the dialogue intended for all characters present and reflects her new perspective, rather than an inner thought. Similarly, Petruchio's requests, like asking Katherina to kiss him, are also actions meant to be seen and heard by others rather than private musings.