Beneath the Shrew's Veil
A Taming of the Shrew Monologue
This has been one of my favourite English assessments. We had to chose a gap in the Shakespeare comedy, Taming of the Shrew, and explore a character’s feelings, conflict and thought process in that moment. I chose Katherina In the middle of Act 2, Scene 1 after she has a fight with her ‘perfect’ sister, Bianca.
Note: must be read as if presented if that makes sense
Exposition: After her fight with Bianca, Katherina has retreated into her room, fuming over the treatment from her father. She may seem hard and shrewish but she is just doing what she thinks is right.
(Enter stage, angry)
What have I done to deserve such a wretched sister!
Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, running to father whenever she’s in trouble.
Running to her room as soon as she is asked, making me look bad if I don’t do the same.
(looks out the window).
And there he is, selling me off to those horrid suitors like I’m just some possession.
Forcing me to watch it all happen, helpless behind this glass.
Of course, father doesn’t care.
He only has eyes for sweet Bianca.
Sweet Bianca who can do no wrong!
Sweet Bianca who has all of Padua and beyond lining up for a chance to claim her hand.
Sweet Bianca, the perfect daughter.
His pretty little angel, flower, painting.
Only good to look at, nothing more.
All they see me as is a wretched shrew, a hilding of a devilish spirit!
A bitter and sour woman.
Well to them I say: “What makes me bitter? My own opinions? My lack of obedience? Am I too much like a man for you? If you find me insufferable, how do you think we find you?”
They all stare at me, whisper behind their fans, point and mock me.
They act as though I can’t hear them, like I’m in a glass display case for their entertainment.
All of Padua shuns me, ignores me, rejects me, outcasts me.
Gremio, Hortensio, even my own Father seems to hate me!
(pacing, and #annoyed)
And Bianca! My own sister!
She thinks I’m jealous of her.
Me jealous of her?
If anything, I pity her.
Bianca, the very image of a perfect wife, cannot stand up for herself.
She has no opinions of her own and that will be her downfall.
Can’t she see I’m doing this for her?
How can she grow to be better if all she knows is obedience?
I can’t be all she needs though.
If only mother were still here.
She’d know exactly what to do.
(Sits at vanity)
Oh mother, how I miss you.
You saw me for who I was.
You believed in equality, (small chuckle) nothing like father.
All he wants to do is marry me off to benefit his precious Bianca.
He never cared about me.
He always thought we were too similar, too strong willed, too stubborn.
You taught me to be true to myself and to help Bianca.
(Picks up portrait from vanity and looks at it)
I have let you down mother, I have failed you.
Bianca will not survive in this world, she is too soft, too naïve, too delicate.
It was my job to prepare her but I have failed.
All the days of being a shrew for nothing.
It is a pointless endeavour; I might as well give up now.
Now while I still have a chance to change my image, to be accepted, to be loved.
If Bianca won’t change, I will.
Finally, father won’t ignore me.
He won’t, he can’t.
If I’m the perfect daughter, the perfect wife, the perfect Bianca he has to love me.
(stands up, puts portrait back on vanity)
That’s it! I’ll become the perfect daughter!
I’ve given up on Bianca, she can fend for herself and get married to Gremio the Gremlin for all I care.
But Mother… No.
I can’t do that to her.
She’d be so disappointed.
Giving up who I am, giving up on Bianca, just for the chance to be accepted.
And there is a very real possibility no one will want me anyway.
I’m trapped, always trapped.
Trapped in a glass coffin, the hope of freedom so close yet so far.
But my heart yearns to be accepted.
To been seen and to be heard.
For father to be proud to call me his daughter.
But it also wants to help Bianca and I cannot do that by forgetting who I am at my core.
(voice half-breaking)
What am I to do?
Bianca or me?
Please mother or father?
The only person who truly loved me or the person who has cast me aside.
(shakes head and wipes away tears)
Pull. Yourself. Together. Katherina.
You’re better than this.
Stop these foolish thoughts about feelings of all things.
You need to do this, for no one else can.
For yourself, for mother, for Bianca.
(cue dramatic exit)