Taming of the Shrew Monologue
bea's take on Act 4, Scene 3
My monologue depicts Katherine’s struggle after marrying Petruchio and witnessing his abuse as a means to tame her. She will have to decide whether she is strong enough to play along, or if she has no choice but to fall victim of his taming. It takes place during Act 4 after Scene 3.
For this to make sense, it must be read as if it is being performed.
(Katherine enters, before sitting despondently on the floor)
What hath become of me? Mine will broken, heart did trap, and body weak. I’m like a fly in a web, did doth catch, starved and sleepless — separated from mine family. These walls hold me in, a cage designed to lure any bride who enters. The man I call husband keeps me from my happiness, yanking my strings like a marionette. Mine choices limited from starving and lying, sleeping and deceiving mine own values.
(Fidgets with the ring, before removing it, and holding it up)
Oh marriage, what a horrible thing, with mine husband, the spider, the mastermind of this sticky web.
(Sad)
Mine father did play right into his hands, taking his word as law, and me as something to sell. He hath fooled mine family, and now intends on making me face a similar fate. He wants to ridicule me. To break me. He means to maketh a puppet of me!
(Mockingly pretends to be Petruchio)
“Why, how true, the tailor means to maketh a puppet of thee!”
(Angry)
Oh, how he dares twist mine words, mine wilt, mine life. Bully me into submission as the part of perfect wife. Oh, woe, mine walls close in, his foul trickery forces mine hand, to state that the sun is naught the sun, but the moon in all her beauty.
(Stands up, and starts pacing)
What rubbish is this, his trickery meant to tame me, mine soul so broken I can’t even plot against him? Am I now an animal, forced to accept that the hand feeds me, now beats me? What kind of torture is this, to strip me of mine humanity, to humiliate me? To continue pulling the strings, twisting mine fate?
(shakes head)
His silver tongue conniving to turn everyone into his loyal pets. One he charmed mine father; he did start weaving his shining web of lies. Now, he and his servants knoweth mine every move.
(Stops for a second, and flaps her arms despondently)
Mine body, mine rights, mine life is now his property. Mine wilt a toy for him to playeth with until it breaks. He cares not for me, but for the challenge I present. The struggle I wilt giveth, yond I hath't given 'gainst his demands. But now, I am weak. I am starved, sleepless and tired. More than that, I am alone. I hath nobody. He aspires to maketh me nobody. A jointress, quiet in the corner, obedient and kind.
(Sigh)
Shouldst I accept mine life as my master’s new pet? Shouldst I accept mine lodging amongst his scheming, the fly did stick in the spider’s lair, the hunting dog broken and reborn to serveth thy master.
(Pauses then realises something)
But what is an animal, but the reason in which fickle humans change their ways? Mine master, mine husband, mine captor—the roles reversed. If’t be true I playeth the part of perfect wife, pull the strings of the web yond bind me. I’ll sayeth the moon art the sun and did let the fool playeth God till mine retribution comes. Then, I shalt escape.
(Pauses, and reconsiders)
The risk is most great, one wrong grise and the whole web cometh falling down, leaving me a tangled mess with nay desire of escape. Is mine freedom worth mine life? If’t playeth along with his lies, I wilt act perfectly, nev’r faltering.
(Sighs)
I wish I couldst be like Bianca, with all the men lining up for me. Or shalt I beest like mine father? Make mine own future and shape the lives around me. Or perhaps,
(smiles sadly)
mine dear mother. She did teach me to beest brave, strong and independent. She would beest so ashamed to see me now, crying over some man who thinks he hath the power to breaketh me. Shouldst I giveth up, ? Showeth yon I am nothing more than the shrew did maketh to beest tamed.
(Shakes head)
Nay, I cannot. I wilt not giveth up. I wilt pretend, playeth along with the twists of the strings. I’ll square the horrors quietly, defying my master’s will. I’ll turn mine captor into mine little pet, the animal shalt train the hand that did beats them to serve them.
(Starts pacing)
I shalt fool him, and his little servants. I shalt tell everyone that I am what I am not. No longer sullen and sour, but dutiful and bound to serve, the fool who tried to break me. I shalt say what he wants to hear, what they all want to hear of mine rebellion. I shalt not beest tamed.
(Walks off)