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The Taming of the Shrew

by William Shakespeare

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Student Question

Which quote from The Taming of the Shrew best shows Katherina's reluctance to marry?

Quick answer:

The quote "No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced / To give my hand, opposed against my heart / Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen / Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure" from Act 3, Scene 2 of The Taming of the Shrew best illustrates Katherina's reluctance to marry. Her use of words like "must," "forced," and "opposed against" highlights her unwillingness and dissatisfaction with the marriage to Petruchio.

Expert Answers

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How about this one?  Kate addresses the crowd of wedding guests as she is waiting with them for Petruchio who is intentionally late for their wedding.

"No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced
To give my hand, opposed against my heart
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen
Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure"

Act 3, Sc. 2, Lines 8-11

In this quote she uses strong words such as "must," "forced," and "opposed against" to discuss her situation and her impending wedding plans.  It works to foreshadow her behavior in the near future as a newlywed which adds to the humor of this play.  Enjoy!

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