Becoming of the Shrew

We are wrapping up with the first unit of the last humanities class of my sophomore year, Drama. In this unit we have studied the Shakespearean play, "The Taming of the Shrew". We read the play, partially out loud as a class and partially by ourselves,  and watched clips of different performances of the play. We also held discussions in class about our thoughts were on the gender roles shown in it, specifically with Katherine, and how to interpret the usage of the word shrew. Katherine is described as a shrew by the male characters around her. This is because at the beginning of the play she is uninterested in marriage in general, and is known for being difficult to get along with. Her sister, Bianca, is highly desired by the men around them, but seems generally neutral on the whole matter of marriage. Our Action Project for this unit was to write a sonnet giving advice to a character, and I chose to write mine from the perspective of Bianca giving herself advice. It takes place in Act 5 Scene 2 of the play, and I edited the sonnet into a clip of the play. Check it out below.


Looks of carefully balanced composure 

Acceptance of womanhoods pageantry 

To those who look beyond the enclosure

Beneath lurks all swallowing apathy


Conflicting thoughts swell up like a blister

To disobey I know will lead me to

Consignment to be just like my sister

Nothing more than another loathsome shrew 


To come when called hardly a better option

Surrendering all hopes of dialogue

Far easier to drown in the exhaustion

Barely more than expected of a dog 


And after some reflection, when he cues

I stand back, I silently refuse




Sources: 

https://youtu.be/qMwKvjoMblo

https://youtu.be/e7AQNiLy5DA

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