THE TAMING OF THE SHREW LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIONMelissa Montano

THESIS Even though the characters often

demonstrate their power by controlling other people's speech-The Taming of the Shrew often portrays language as though it is capable of causing physical damage.

SLY Sly was once a lowlife drunk who wakes

up as a Lord with tons of money. His speech becomes formal and he instantly becomes the man he thinks he is.

BAPTISTA Baptista definitely plays favorites with

his daughters. He admires Bianca but treats Kate poorly. He speaks with authority to Kate and kindly to Bianca. Therefore, he is tricked easily by Bianca’s persuaders and is rejected by Kate.

KATE Kate is very outspoken. She treats

people with disrespect because she is treated likewise by her father. She swears, screams, makes a scene, and is violent towards Bianca.

Petruchio doesn’t give in to Kate’s tantrums when they get married. Kate then realized that she had to treat him fairly to get her way.

PETRUCHIO Petruchio talks with authority to

everyone he meets and therefore is treated with respect in return.

TRANIO Tranio is Lucentio’s servant boy who

then becomes Lucentio to trick Baptista. His speech becomes more influenced because he is a respected student.

LUCENTIO Lucentio’s speech stays the same

because he is a generally respected person who treats other people with respect.

BIANCA Bianca speaks with dignity and poise.

She is treated with goodness from her father and every male suitor. Kate is the only person that Bianca treats otherwise because Kate treats her poorly.

HORTENSIO Hortensio talks like he’s a push over.

Petruchio and Lucentio pushes him around because he makes it easy for them to pick on him. Bianca told him off because she wasn’t interested and his widowed wife makes him do everything that she doesn’t want to do.

CONCLUSION Well it comes to show that people, no

matter their gender, will be treated the way that they talk. Whether they speak aggressively or passionately, they will be treated with either respect or contempt.

WORKS CITEDShakespeare, William. The Taming of the

Shrew. New York: Signet Classics, 1986. 107. Print.