Week 3: Taming of the Shrew

Petruchio

Why came I hither but to that intent? 

Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? 

Have I not in my time heard lions roar?

Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds,

Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat? 

Have I not heard great ordnance in the field

And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies? 

Have I not in a pitched battle heard

Loud 'larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clang? 

And do you tell me of  a woman's tongue;

That gives not half so great a blow to hear

As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire? 

Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs! 

This passage is from Act 1, Scene 2 and is clearly filled with multiple rhetorical questions. Petruchio is trying to make his point, that he is not afraid of Katherine's sound level and irritating ways, because he has been through worse. He also uses similes when he compares the rage of the water to "an angry boar chafed with sweat." The syntax is short and to the point, yet the diction is in depth. Although Shakespeare writes with short sentences, the context of each sentence has a concept that is generally difficult to grasp.  

Second Post: Taming of the Shrew

PETRUCHIO 
Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife,
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas:
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

This passage is one that uses direct characterization to describe Petruchio. Before reading this passage, the reader things that Petruchio is just your average fellow, looking for a wife in Padua. However, this passage directly quotes Pretruchio stating that he does not care about who he will marry, but only about the money she has. Shakespeare also alludes to greek mythology to exaggerate the fact that Petruchio is clearly only interested in marriage for money. The repetition of the word "wealth," is also important in that is emphasizes how important wealth is to the character. Shakespeare further proves his point by using a metaphor stating Petruchio would marry any woman even if she was "as rough as are the welling Adriatic seas."

Important Passage number 1

O monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies!
Grim death, how foul and loathsome is thine image!
Sirs, I will practise on this drunken man.
What think you, if he were convey'd to bed,
Wrapp'd in sweet clothes, rings put upon his fingers,
A most delicious banquet by his bed,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes,
Would not the beggar then forget himself? -- pg 2

The Taming of the Shrew is one of William Shakespeare's many plays. This play is one of the most unusual one's because it is a play within a play. This passage is taken from the induction of the play, but it is significant in understanding how the play is going to progress. Like all of Shakespeare's writing, this passage uses old English language and is difficult to understand. When translated it is the lord asking his servants if they think Sly will forget himself if they change his clothes and make him look rich. They are setting up an evil plan, which will set the scene for the entire play. Shakespeare uses a simile when he says "How like a swine he lies!" to make sly look like a complete monster. He wants to make the audience dislike him as much as he does. Shakespeare has a negative tone as well as pessimistic diction. 

P.S. MRS. BAIONE-DODA, I don't think that I did this right so if I did it wrong just let me know and I will redo it. thank you!