Meeting the Shrew

Act 1, Scene 1, Line 1 is never the beginning, especially in Shakespeare, so go check out my last blog here where I explain the lengthy introduction in one short paragraph and more!

In act 1, Shakespeare introduces Baptista, the father of the gorgeous Bianca and the short tempered Katherine. Katherine is compared to a whore and is told that they'd rather cart (have her whipped on the back of a cart as she's driven through town. her than marry he). Katherine is humiliated and threatens "To comb your noodle with a three-legged stool And paint your face and use you like a fool," (Act 1.1.60). After this scene Baptista announces his search for tutors for Bianca because he has now declared that Katherine must marry before her she will have lots of time on her hands. Lucentio and Gremio agree that it is in their best interest to find Katherine a husband.

Greek mythology is heavily sprinkled throughout this play. Allusions to greek gods and goddesses are featured on almost every page. On the second page, Shakespeare refers to Stoics which were ancient greek philosophers (Act 1.1.29) and on the fourth page he begins referencing Minerva, or as the greeks called her, Athena. Athena was the goddess of wisdom. Shakespeare implies that Tranio's intelligent conscious is Athena's sagacious voice when he writes, "Thou may’st hear Minerva speak," (Act 1.1.86). His last allusion to greek mythology in act 1, scene 1 explains that Bianca's beauty could have humbled Zeus, the king of gods (Shakespeare refers to Zeus as Jove): "Oh yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face Such as the daughter of Agenor had, That made great Jove to humble him to her hand When with his knees he kissed the Cretan strand," (Act 1.1. 138).

Allusions in Act 1, Scene 1:

Stoics- Greek philosophers (line 29)

Minerva- Roman Goddess of Wisdom (line 86)

Jove- King of gods, Zeus (line 139)

#Scene1 #literature #shakespeare #allusion