Changing Love: True Black

It is said that, love is when two individuals come to appreciate who their partner for who and what he or she is, that they cannot see what their life would be without them. However, in Shakespeare's The Taming of A Shrew and in the romantic-comedy Think Like A Man, love is formed through change. Couples do not love each other for who they are, they love each other for who they become.


In the movie Think Like A Man, Zeke was a man who spent most of his time courting women. He enjoyed sex without a real relationship. He was quite a ladies man, and knew the game of intimacy, that is until he met a woman named Mya who had her own views on relationships. She put Zeke on a ninety day no sex rule and started off very cautious with Zeke where Zeke was trying to skip right into the bedroom. Wanting to make sure that Zeke was worth keeping, she was very careful with him. However, as time went by Mya began to trust Zeke more and more, and Zeke began to develop more and more feelings for Mya as well as becoming more and more romantically attached. These feeling peaked when they were at a festival and Zeke stated “I love you girl.” Mya didn’t trust Zeke at first because she could sense he really didn’t have true feelings for her. However, as his feelings grew, hers did as well. Their romantic attachment was forged from the shift in feelings they had toward each other. This is similar to Taming A Shrew because as Petruchio’s impulsive action grew more and more frequent, her mood and feeling began to change. She becomes more and more humble toward Petruchio and those around her.
think-like-a-man-pic05
think-like-a-man-pic05

In The Taming of the Shrew, there were two women from a family of fortune named Katherine and Bianca. Katherine was the older sister and seen by the kingdom as demonic and evil. Bianca, the younger sister, was viewed as an angel and had suitors all across the land. In order for Bianca to wed, first Katherine would have to be wed. Lucentio and Grumio were both suitors of Bianca who wanted Katherine to marry so that one of them would could have Bianca’s hand. They called upon a man named Petruchio who agreed to take Katherine’s hand in marriage. He set forth an illusion to her father that she had agreed to his proposal, at which he had his blessing. Once they were wed, Petruchio began to act extremely controlling, somewhat similar to how Katherine was portrayed. As time went by, Katherine began to be more and more passive. At a diner party she stated “ Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper…” The demonic Katherine has been humbled by seeing almost a reflection of herself in Petruchio. Petruchio has taken ownership of her, and her love for him forced her to change for him. Zeke’s situation was similar while he was talking to his friend about the status in his relationship. He was saying that he was done with the constant talking, dates, and feelings. He said “I just want to hit! And if she think imma wait thirty more days to get the cookie, she gonna be waiting by herself.” His friend questioned him and realized that Zeke really did like her. He then teased him a little bit and hung up. When Zeke went to go break up with Mya, she mentioned something that made him reconsider his action. His escalating feelings for Mya have forced him to stay with her that much more, his craving for sex is starting to diminish and the more they do, the more feelings Mya has toward Zeke as well.    


think like a man 1
think like a man 1

In Think Like A Man, Mya had broken up with Zeke because she thought that all he wanted was a sexual relationship with her. After doing some reminiscing he realized that he truly did want a real relationship with Mya. He confronted her at a music bar where he explained his true feelings toward her by saying “Mya I love you... I’m in love with you… I’ve never said that to anyone in my life.” Once she realized that Zeke was no longer the sex craving player he once was, she knew she was able to accept him as her boyfriend once again. Taming of the Shrew had a similar ending. When he told his wife to come forth, she came out and let it be known to everyone that Petruchio has tamed her. She said “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper…” Her love has forced her to give up her dark, demonic ways and humble herself to Petruchio, similar to how Zeke humbled himself to Mya.


TLAMExaminer
TLAMExaminer
Has people develop their character, they also develop the relationship with the partner. Some argue that it is the things you have in common with your partner as well as your differences. Though this is true, couples change their similarities and differences as they come together which forms a stronger relationship. No real relationship can exist without some form of change by the partners.

Pregnant Power: Jaazaniah Hayes

Taming of the Shrew (The Play), and Knocked Up (The Movie)


    Taming of the shrew is a tale between many characters. There are various situations that happen in this play, many romances that happened, and many males wanting to woo 2 sisters. One sister had way more men. However the part thats interesting is Katharine and Petruchio, and their fight for who had more power. In the romantic comedy Knocked Up characters Ben and Allison have a one night stand, and then decide that they didn’t work well as a couple. Weeks later Allison figures out she is pregnant, and her and Ben try to make things work. Though in Shrew and Knocked up relationships were based on power, modern day relationships are based more on having things in common.



“And, for that dowry, I’ll assure her of her widowhood, be it that she survive me, in all my lands and leases whatsoever.”

(Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 130-133)

    Petruchio is saying to Katherine's father that he wants to marry her. Before this quote he expresses how deeply he wants her. Everybody who is this scene is telling him how bad she is, but he simply says he doesn’t care. He is telling everyone, but mainly her dad that he will marry her. However for he can get worse that they say she is, so hopefully she survives what he is going to do. This quote shows how people think that she will keep the power, and boss him around. He simply says she has to survive me, and whatever she does i’m going to do something worse. A few lines before this quote, Katherine's father says that he will have to woo her, but he thinks he doesn’t need to. Power beat love back then, and even though love isn’t a must, having something in common needs to be there.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 2.33.02 PM

   In this scene they decide to go out to learn more about each other. Allison learns that Ben doesn’t have a real job, and is living off a settlement check. She starts to think that maybe they aren’t a match, and maybe this was a mistake. She just comes out a says she is pregnant. Then Ben finds out that there was a misunderstanding between him and Allison. He thought she was telling him to take of the protection he was struggling to put on, but that wasn’t the case. After Allison tells him the news, he tries to make it seem like she isn’t really pregnant. They realize they have nothing in common, because she has a real job that pays, and he doesn’t. He is more of a laid back not worried guy, and she is a little expressive. Their lives and personalities don’t really match. This shows how “Taming of the Shrew” and “Knocked up” display similar ways as modern day relationships, and of not wooing someone.


“I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again”

(Act 2, Scene 1, Line 234 )

    In this scene Petruchio is telling Katharine that if she tries to hit him, he will handcuff her. Katharine thinks she has the power by putting her hands on him. He tries to take the power and control back by saying that if she tries to hit him again he will handcuff her. By handcuffing her, he will have her in his hands. To get out the cuffs, she has to listen to her. The way he took the power back was by cuffing her. Modern day relationships might be about wooing a person, and things people have in common. However relationships back then were about who had the power to run stuff.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 2.22.03 PM

This picture is the reaction of their faces when the doctor says that she is pregnant. They are confused as to like why did this have to happen. We aren’t a match, and now we are having a baby together. This is a problem because since they don’t match, how are they going to raise a baby together. So both Ben and Allison were shocked, and they had a decision to make. The 2 people had to try to match, and make their relationship work.


“Thus have I politicly begun my reign, and ‘tis my hope to end successfully. My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,...”

(Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 188-190)

    This quote was about how he was going to teach her how to act, and for him to be in control. Petruchio thinks that he train her, to be at his will. He has a master plan to get all the power in his hands. His plan will take the balance from 60-40 to 100-0. The power balance would be in his favor. He would be able to control her. The power balance in Knocked up is about 40-60 in Allison’s favor. Only because she is having the baby. Both Ben and Allison consider each other opinions. Even though they aren’t compatible, they still need to get along. Compatibility was important in Knocked up, but not so important in Shrew.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 3.40.14 PM
     In this scene Ben and Allison were talking about how they could make this work. They both knew they weren't going to be able to make this work. But for the sake of them they decided to try and make things work. Even though they aren't compatible, they try anyway. They both are sharing the power, because the decision came from both of them. Compatibility is more important that power in modern day relationships.

  The play “Taming of the Shrew” and the movie “Knocked up” both show relationships, and don’t account for wooing someone. Both Shrew and Knocked up relationships are based on power, however modern day relationships are based more on having things in common. Knocked up a modern day movie, not only focuses on power but also demonstrates the need for compatibility. Where as Shrew focuses on one person overpowering the other person. “Taming of the Shrew” and “Knocked up” didn’t incorporate wooing the other person, however Knocked up focused on Ben and Allison being compatible.

BiB:

Shakespeare, William. N.p.: William Shakespeare, n.d. Print.

Knocked up. Dir. Judd Apatow. Prod. Judd Apatow, Shauna Robertson, Clayton Townsend, and Seth Rogen. By Judd Apatow. Perf. Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. Universal Pictures, 2007. Film.

 

Shrew's Playbook

Shrew’s Playbook

Comparing “Taming of the Shrew” to “The Silver Linings Playbook”


William Shakespeare wrote many amazing plays, one of which is The Taming Of The Shrew. To of the many main characters are Katherine and Petruchio. Many, many years after the play a movie was made by David O. Russell called The Silver Linings Playbook. Main characters in the movie are Pat and Tiffany.


In Shrew, Katherine is Petruchio’s lover who goes out of his way to win her but Katherine acts as if she wants nothing to do with him. In Silver Linings Playbook, the Tiffany also sets out to win her love, however she is more open to Pat, who actually wants to get back with his ex-wife


Katherine and Tiffany have the same target in both stories but strategies used are quite different. Tiffany wants someone that actually wants someone else, this causes Tiffany to use different strategies to lure in her loved one. The two conditions show how the tactics used to lure someone have changed over the years. This reflects that the tactics used by women have gotten more efficient to the point where they are standing up for their love.

“Too light for such a swain as you to catch,”

“And yet as heavy as my weight should be.”

Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 215-216

Petruchio had desired to marry Katherine as soon he found out that she is the oldest daughter of the wealthiest men in Padua, Baptista. Petruchio goes to Baptista's to lay out his proposal, the father agrees, only if Petruchio can make Katherine to love him as well. Petruchio then goes to meet Katherine and the two seem to have a bad start.


Katherine speaks to Petruchio but her replies are very sharp. The quote above is from Katherine and Petruchio’s met. Katherine means that she is too quick for such an awkward person as Petruchio to catch her but that she is the right weight for someone else. Her comment was suppose to push Petruchio away but it made Petruchio come to her more. This seems to be Katherine’s way of getting Petruchio because the more she acts as to not wanting anything to do with Petruchio the more it lures him into wanting Katherine.

The act of pretending to not like the opposite sex doesn’t seem to work years later in The Silver Lining Playbook. The movie shows that the female is more eager to show their love to the person they love.   

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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 9.07.11 PM

In The Silver Lining Playbook, Tiffany is a widow and a recovering drug addict. She falls in love with Ted, who was just released from a mental health facility back into his parents house. The two meet over dinner at Tiffany’s sisters house, where Pat gets to know more about Tiffany. She later feels tired and asks Pat to walk her home. When they arrive in front of her house Tiffany right away says that Pat can have sex with her. Pat is stunted by her reply because all he wants is to have a friendly relationship with his wife. This shows that female are now more willing and more open to the mind of men.

Would Katherine had never seen him, though!

Act 3, Scene 2, Line 26

After Petruchio’s efforts to get Katherine, he finally gets to marry her. On the wedding day Katherine says the quote above. This quote says Katherine wishes that she had never met Petruchio. This again shows that she doesn’t want anything to do with him.


In the movie Tiffany and Pat start to understand each other more and become more friendly. Pat decides to write a letter to his ex-wife explaining what is happening in his life. However, Pat can not give the letter to his wife because of his restraining order. Tiffany sees this as a change to see pat more and use it to her benefit.

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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 11.07.54 PM

Tiffany agrees to give the letter to his wife only if he enter a dance competition with her because her husband couldn’t. Pat aggres and this gives tiffany the opportunity to spend more time and be much closer to Pat. Tiffany uses the strategy of doing something and getting something in return to get Pat closer to her. This is similar and different to the way Katherine tries to win Petruchio. They both are trying to win someone just in opposite ways. Katherine’s strategy is to act as if she doesn’t want Petruchio and Tiffany’s strategy is to be more open and do things for Pat.

Over the years females behavior and tactics used to win their loved ones have changed. Before they were too shy and careful to say the way they truly felt about someone but now females stand up to the person they love and are less cautious.



Work cited

The Silver Lining Playbook. Dir. David O. Russell. Perf. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Mirage Enterprises and The Weinstein Company, 2012.

Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square, 1992. Print.


But How Will She Take It?

A comparison between Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" and the movie "Submarine"

In William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy called “The Taming of the Shrew,” a wealthy man named Petruchio traveled Padua with the intention to “wive and thrive.” He claimed no matter how terrible his wife was, the gold mattered more and Petruchio would “woo” her anyway. Shortly after arriving in Padua, Petruchio married a wealthy but hostile woman named Katherine. The 2010 British film “Submarine” displayed fifteen year old Oliver Tate’s theories in pursuing his mysterious classmate, Jordana, who’d just been cheated on by her last boyfriend.


Petruchio’s and Oliver’s goals were relatively the same—to get a significant other to keep—but both their methods and obstacles differed. In order to marry Katherine, all Petruchio had to do was convince her father that she loved him. Since she was sour with Petruchio (like she was with everyone) and the father saw this, Petruchio fibbed that he and Katherine showed they were in love only when in each other’s company. Alternatively, Oliver sought after Jordana and it was by way of personality and actions that finally got him the girl. It was not guaranteed she would stay, though. Compared to now, marriages were more like permanent business trades in the time period of “The Taming of the Shrew,” and in some parts of the world, it still is. However, society has grown open to more opinions and ideas behind marriage, courtship, and dating. The texts reflect the distance a man goes to keep or lose his partner, and that not every woman reacts the same way in turn.


“And therefore, if thou know

One rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife

… Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love,

… I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;

If wealthily, then happily in Padua.”


(Act 1, Scene 2, lines 67-77)


Here, Petruchio noted that wealth was a big factor in who he wanted to “wive.” When he said, “Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love,” he meant that he does not care as much about the behavior of the woman but how much money she has. This directly relates to how a man will go far, in this case far with tolerating  a woman’s temper, to gain the privilege of “wiving” her.


In Submarine, the Petruchio is Oliver Tate, who already has a love interest named Jordana.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 11.10.10 AM
During this scene early on in the movie, Oliver is describing his knowledge of what Jordana is like (in a voiceover) while spying on her. “She never speaks about herself, therefore she could be anything. She’s moderately unpopular, which makes a romance between the two of us more likely. She’s also a girl; to be seen with her would improve my street cred.” Like Petruchio, Oliver does want a romance for “street cred”/riches, but he is more interested in a specific woman—he is not settling for anyone else but Jordana. He has even already started spying on her to gather more knowledge about her, which shows his efforts thus far in courting.

[Petruchio]:

“For thou art pleasant, gamesome, passing courteous,

… But thou with mildness entertain’st thy wooers,

With gentle conference, soft, and affable.

Why does the world report Kate doth limp?

[Katherine]:

… Where did you study all this goodly speech?”


(Act 2, Scene 1, lines 259-277)



In this scene, Petruchio met Katherine for the first time and he experienced first-hand her harsh and shrewlike character in an argument. Towards the end of their brawl, however, Kate was impressed by Petruchio’s way with words, which Petruchio said came off the top of his head. If Petruchio didn’t want Katherine’s hand as much as he did, he would not have gone through so much arguing and name-calling to come around and compliment her afterwards. Although she dealt with a great deal of insults thrown back at her, Kate was more turned by Petruchio’s kind words.

In another scene from “Submarine,” Oliver’s use of words with Jordana made up for his faulty actions to his advantage in the end.
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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 9.46.31 AM
A few moments before this still, Oliver invited Jordana, now his girlfriend, over for dinner and “lovemaking.” To prepare for the “lovemaking” part, Oliver set up a fancy dinner, bought balloons, and decorated his parents’ room with red blankets and candles. He showed Jordana the surprise by covering her eyes and not letting her open them until he was sprawled on the bed posed seductively. Though he thought it would work well, Jordana left the house, and Oliver handed her a letter he’d written for post-lovemaking. It was the letter that brought Jordana back to Oliver’s door and then they slept together. Both of them were content in this relationship for that time.

[Petruchio]:

“It shall be moon, or star, or what I list…

[Katherine]:

… Forward, I pray, since we have come so far,

And be it moon, or sun, or what you please.

And if you please to call it a rush candle,

Henceforth I vow it shall be for me.”


(Act 4, Scene 5, lines 7-17)


After they were married and living as a couple, Petruchio began “taming” his “shrew.” He starved with Katherine for three days, he went on to call the sun in the sky the moon, demanding she agreed with him before they could go anywhere. Kate sharply disagreed with him for a while until she finally gave in and agreed with whatever he would say. Regarding this, readers can tell that Petruchio had complete control over Katherine—she was trapped in their marriage and persuaded to begin accepting it as her reality. Besides the fact that divorce and breaking up was not very common during their times, Petruchio’s way of keeping Katherine involved treating her with as much hostility she once treated everyone with.


Submarine’s more contemporary representation of relationships has a different approach to the female’s mistreatment in a relationship.

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Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 12.07.16 AM

This shot of Submarine shows a letter Jordana wrote to Oliver notifying him that she was ending their relationship. Before this, Oliver said he would show up to the hospital with Jordana to see her ill mother and did not follow through. According to him, whether or not Jordana’s mother’s surgery went well, she would still need time apart from him. At this point, although Oliver thought he wasn’t being completely harmful by skipping out on time with Jordana, the way she reacted resulted in their breakup. This exemplifies the freedom women now have in their relationships to decide whether or not they are worth being in, and also the man’s actions in efforts to keep his spouse.


Oliver’s failure to keep Jordana with him throughout their short relationship with each other reflects that despite either partner’s efforts, a relationship does not always work out between two people. With Petruchio and Katherine, the results of Petruchio’s actions towards Katherine started as bitter reactions but eventually a compromise between the two. Even at the end of Submarine, however, Jordana and Oliver meet once again and have a moment of friendship between each other, and so no one is completely miserable by the end of their tale.


Works Cited


Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square, 2002. Print.


Submarine. Dir. Richard Ayoade. By Joe Dunthorne and Richard Ayoade. Perf. Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige. 2010. Netflix.


Caged Bird

Taming the Shrew compared to The Birdcage

In The Birdcage and in Taming the Shrew, the people and couples that are presented show various similarities and differences. In The Birdcage, one couple stands out among the rest. But for one reason, they are are both men. Albert and Armand both run a Drag Queen show in South Miami Beach, but they are also together and this may seem a bit awkward to other people. In some parts of the movie, Albert and Armand use deception to make it seem like they are friends and not together, other times they use honesty and take pride in being together. While in the Taming of the Shrew, the elaborate plan to take both Bianca’s and Katherine’s hands in marriage shows a lot of deception tactics and honesty seems like a thing of the past, Almost as if it does not exist then.

The Birdcage and The Taming of the Shrew contrast dramatically because of the ways that the couples present themselves. They are more different than similar because one uses honesty more than deception. Over the centuries people started caring more about each other than money. The Birdcage reflects this belief because the couple really cares about being together.

“Be patient, gentlemen. I choose her for myself. - I will be sure my Katerine shall be fine.” (Act 2. Sc. 1 Pg. 97 NOTE: My ESP allowed me to choose this quote by calling on the cosmos to help me find the perfect quote and I opened the book and the Cosmos lead me to this quote.)

The quote above justifies the deception in the Taming of the Shrew fully because Petruchio’s speech is complete deception without a hint of honesty.

“And woo her with some spirit when she comes! Say- But here she comes––and now, Petruchio, speak.” (Act 2. Sc. 1 Pg 87)

This quote shows how Petruchio uses deception to get what he wants. He lies to get Katherine to like him and also lies to the father about invalid deals that never existed in the first place. Petruchio is like me, I like to mix Lies and rumors into stories full of deception. I can brew the most believable lies but also the most extreme tales. Petruchio is a cunning liar, twisting people’s words, beliefs and thoughts into stories of deceptions and false realities

968full-the-birdcage-screenshot
968full-the-birdcage-screenshot

The screenshot above shows the deception in The Birdcage but instead of continuous deception as in Taming of the Shrew, it’s deception with redemption. Albert pretends to be the mother, which is deception, but then when the real mother shows up, it becomes deception with redemption. Which then becomes honesty and that is the main difference between Taming of the Shrew and The Birdcage.

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003

The second screenshot shows the scene where the elaborate plan of marriage takes place, Val is getting married with a Senator’s daughter and Val needs Albert to take a vacation for a few days until the marriage is over. Because the Senator is very conservative and gay people back then were not accepted as well. To avoid a long explanation of the plot, the senator’s ally dies in bed and the news are all over him, and his safe haven is the drag club where the senator’s family and Val’s families are meeting. The senator does find out that Albert and Armand are gay and that is where deception with redemption stands out the most.

Taming of the Shrew is a play of complete deception without redemption while the movie, The Birdcage is deception with redemption. This also shows that honest is more valued in modern times than back then in medieval times. With such differences, the play and the movie prove the relationship between Honesty and Deception.

Taming the beast behind male courtship

Taming the beast behind male courtship

“Taming of the shrew” and “Beauty and the beast”


In “Taming of the shrew” the abusive, controlling Petruchio was a symbol of how men were dominant over women at the time, restricting their rights and opinion when it came to courting or relationships. In the 1991 movie “Beauty and the Beast”, the two main male characters, The Beast and Gaston, act the same way to the love interest, Belle. Although The Beast is not as abusive and controlling as Petruchio, he still forced Belle into a relationship she may have not wanted to start in the first place. He trapped Belle in his castle, and forced her to eventually fall in love with him. Today, the still evident dominant male role in relationships allows men to use anything to get the girl he wants- including forcefulness and deception.


In both “Taming of the Shrew” and “Beauty and the Beast”, the male characters used deception to win the hearts of their love interest. Both relationships were established on a lie or lies. For example, (towards the end of the movie) Gaston used the lie that Belle’s father was insane, then bribed the insane asylum owner to take him away. This would force Belle to marry Gaston in order to save her father. Gaston offered her two options- Let her father be put away forever or marry Gaston and let her father go. This forced Belle into a position where she was helpless to decide her marital fate.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 3.15.42 PM

The above scene shows that Belle did not want to marry Gaston, and if it had not been for the Beast, another love interest, she would have been forced to marry Gaston.


Katherine faced a similar situation- Petruchio lied to Baptista, claiming that he loved Katherine, when in reality he was just marrying her for her money. He then assured Baptista that Katherine would be well taken care of and provided for (another lie) which was in a way bribing Baptista to let Katherine marry him. Although both of the female characters were strong-willed and independent, they were both forced into bad situations by a male interested in them. This reflects that some relationships that women have with a male partner were forced upon them or are established on lies.


Katherine was trapped into a relationship with Petruchio before she met him. He quickly devised a plan to “win her heart” (or her fathers acceptance) by pretending to be something he was not-


act 2 sc 1 p 87- “and woo  her with some spirit when she comes!...then I’ll commend her volubility” (Petruchio)


Petruchio used his cunning, lies, and forceful manner to trick both Baptista and Katherine into thinking he was a viable suitor. He continued to pretend to be something he wasn’t around others in order to keep up the rouse.


In “Beauty and the Beast” the Beast also trapped Belle into a situation she could not get out of. Her father stumbled upon the Beast’s castle, then was thrown in the dungeon by the monster himself. Belle, afraid for her father, bargained with the Beast to let him go. The Beast, realizing what he could gain from this, instead trapped Belle into his castle, forcing her to eventually court  him. If Belle was never trapped in his castle, she likely wouldn’t have fallen for him. He used his power to claim dominance over Belle; he also lied about who he truly was. It mentioned at the beginning of the movie that he was once a handsome prince. He neglected to inform Belle the truth, thus also establishing their relationship on a lie.
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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 10.40.18 PM

Belle is shocked and confused about the Beast’s transformation, realizing (like Petruchio) he wasn’t what he truly was.


“What, did he marry me to famish me?” (katherine)

p. 163 act 4 sc 3


Katherine was also shocked and confused once the newlyweds got home and Petruchio began abusing her. In the movie, the Beast also abused Belle by withholding food in the beginning of the movie.


Since both women were still won over by the male interest by the end of the play or movie, this again reflects that men were able to use anything at their disposal to get what they wanted. In “Taming of the Shrew” Katherine was tamed and married by the end, reflecting how much power men had at that time. However, despite “Beauty and the Beast” being a modern kids movie, it also showed the dominant male getting the girl. This indicates society's need to see the dominant male character get the girl he wants, regardless of what tactics he uses to achieve her.

Different Relationships with parents interference





Comparing “Taming of the the Shrew” to “Jumping The Broom”



     The book “The Taming of the Shrew” shows, how parents interference impacts a relationship. In “Shrew”, a character name Baptista who is the father of Katherine and Bianca has different expectations on having a relationship with his daughters. In the 2011 movie “Jumping the Broom”, the two characters Jason Taylor & Sabrina Watson are in love and decides to get married. The romantic couple planning the wedding into their special day both of their parents thats from two different places have expectations on their wedding as they meet each other for the first time.


Though Baptista was so protective over his daughters that he set lines on dating them. Baptista was interfering in the relationship setting orders and telling them the only way if they can get married if they do this or that. Bianca and Lucentio were two people from the “Shrew”, who had fell in romantic love and ended up to getting married. Katherine and Petruchio were two people from the “Shrew”, who had fell in romantic love and ended up getting married. By contrast, Jason Taylor’s mother Pamela Taylor interfered in his relationship with Sabrina Watson because she wanted to do a family tradition that the other family didn’t do in weddings. Also she was still treating Jason as a child and to overprotective on him. By Sabrina’s mother Claudine Watson and Jason’s mother Pamela Taylor not getting alone Pamela decided to tell Sabrina a big secret that ruined things. These texts reflect the way parents don’t respect or understand that their children are entitled to some form of privacy when it comes to their romantic relationships.


“Gentlemen, importune me no farther, For how I firmly am resolved you know: That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter Before I have a husband for the elder. If either of you both love Katherine, Because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.”

(Act 1, Scene 1, 33-34)



In this quote, Baptista describes the order for his elder daughter Katherine and his younger daughter Bianca. He explains how someone has to fall in love with his elder daughter and marry her to then someone falling in love with his youngest daughter and marrying her. This quotes shows Baptista as a father interfering in his daughters romantic love affair because he setting an order for his daughters to get married.


The mother of Jason Taylor finds herself in the same situation in the movie, the broom by making Jason follow the family tradition to get married.





In the scene at the end of “Jumping The Broom,” Pamela Taylor states to her friend Shonda, “this is the broom that me and my husband use when we got married.” Sabrina then states to Pamela, “ me and Jason wanted to start our own tradition.” Unlike Baptista, she would break this wedding up before it starts if they won’t jump the broom. Throughout the movie she was trying her best to get her son Jason to follow the family tradition.  I think Jason’s mother was trying to do this because she wanted Jason to follow the family tradition and she felt like as a parent she need to interfere with the relationship by trying to get him to jump the broom.





“Gentlemen that I may soon make good What I have said- Bianca , get you in, And let it not displease thee, good Bianca, For I will love thee ne’er the less, my girl”

(Act 1, Scene 1, 37-38)


In this quote, Baptista describes to the gentlemen about how much he love his daughter and he want the best for her. He informing the men that whoever falls in love with his daughter Bianca better not displease her or it will cause less love in the romantic relationship.



The mother of Jason Taylor finds herself in a difficult situation when Sabrina is taking care of Jason in this situation so she told the truth which caused problems for the wedding.


In the scene at the end of “Jumping The Broom,” Jason is hurt on his wedding day and Pamela see’s how Sabrina is more supportive and helping him out more. She finds herself in a difficult situation as of her losing her son. She then decides to ruining the relationship by telling a big secret that Sabrina didn’t know. Pamela Taylor states to Sabrina, “you so worry about Jason and you don’t even know who your real mother is.” It was a very awkward moment and Sabrina wanted to know the truth so she went to ask her mother Claudine Watson for the truth and she found out thats not her mother. Sabrina then called off the wedding and run away as Jason chase after her.



Jason explains to his mother Pamela how she just ruined everything and that Sabrina never did anything to hurt her. Pamela doesn’t win in this situation and Jason finds Sabrina and ends off  jumping the broom and marrying her. Baptista two daughters ends “The Shrew”,  both married. Katherine marries Petruchio and Bianca marries Luchiento. At the end of “Jumping The Broom”, Pamela just knows where she stand now that her son Jason is married and has someone to take care of him.


Citations:


Shakespeare, William . The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square Press, 1992. Print.

Jumping The Broom. Dir. Salim Akil. Perf. Jason Taylor and Sabrina Watson. 2011. Film.



Things don't really change.


In class, there is a reading the tale of shakespeare’s “The taming of the shew” in which the story takes place about a man who holds a clever mind and likes to make people confused and enjoys to play tricks on them. In the latest trick that the lord wants to pull is to make a female fall in love with him. I’m comparing this timely shakespeare story to a modern romance time in the movie titled “Think like a man”. Think like a man is about a group of male friends who all play a different type of man like one of the . And a group of female friends who all look at relationships different and they clash with one another.

In Taming of the shrew, there is a scene where Petruchio and Katherine have their first encounter and Katherine has a sharp tongue towards petruchio, and shows and he comes back with clever lines. He undermines her anger and calls her a wasp. She gets offended, telling them that if he keeps trying to pursue her, she will sting him.

Quote One

PETRUCHIO: Come, come, you wasp, i’faith you are too angry.

KATHERINE: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.

PETRUCHIO: My remedy is then to pluck it out.

KATHERINE: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies.

PETRUCHIO: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail.

KATHERINE: In his tongue.

PETRUCHIO: Whose tongue?

KATHERINE: Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.

PETRUCHIO: What, with my tongue in your tail?

(II.i.207–214)
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Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 10.05.54 AM

In this scene you see three characters, two of them being female (Mia towards the left and Sonia too the right) As they were finished speaking about how men doesn’t provide enough respect to woman, and how a woman should save her “Cookie” for at least 90 days before they give it up. After Mia is finished going on a rant about it. A man appears on the other side of Sonia and introduces himself to Mia. This is their first encounter, Mia still feels as though that all men aren’t shit so she has an immediate attitude when he starts talking. Like taming of the shew you see who people have their first encounter, first the girl has an attitude



Quote 2


“Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee,

And for thy maintenance commits his body

To painful labour both by sea and land,

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold”

   (V.ii.140183)



In this quote it shows the speech that katerine gave at the end of the play that she finally came around and decided that she was actually getting married and gives a shocking transformation in her opinion of marriage and it stuns everyone else who is hearing those words come out of her mouth. This is surprising because she has had a set attitude and mindset throughout the entire movie and all of the sudden everything changes when she really thinks about it.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-08 at 10.46.57 PM

This is the ending scene of the movie with Candace realizes that money doesn’t matter in an relationship and she still loves him even though he lied about his job, the car he drives and the lifestyle that he lives.





Comparing these two romantic comedy tales. I’m going to be focusing on how male and females both look at relationships and the expectations that come with relationships, lies and deception in a relationships. While comparing these two stories. Honesty and deception plays a big role in how both male and females look towards relationships.


Parents & Marriage= Nightmare

Parents & Marriage= Nightmare

Comparing “Taming of the Shrew” to “Baggage Claim”  

As "The Taming of the Shrew" proves, parents being involved in their child marriage doesn't always end well. In "Shrew," Baptista says some pretty hurtful and demanding things to Katherine which makes her not want to get married. It also makes her resentful of her fathers wishes. In the 2013 movie "Baggage Claim," the main character’s mother sets out to do the same--only this time it's harder for her to find a husband.


Baptista and Catherine share similar thought processes. They believe pushing their child into marriage is what's best for them. The parents have full support by both character’s younger sister and other family members however, Katherine and Montana show much resistance. Both eventually give in to please themselves and their mother and father.


Montana becomes so sick and annoyed by her mother and younger sister, who is engaged to be married, she embarks on a thirty-day, thirty-thousand-mile expedition to woo a potential suitor into becoming her fiancé. Katherine goes about dealing with this by resisting Petruchio’s offer to marry but giving in because she wants to make her father and sister happy. The two situations are very similar but give off different effects on each family. These texts reflect that parents have a hold on their child life even when they are an adult, but because of this, it makes the child feel resentment towards their parents.


Baptista is speaking to Bianca’s suitors and they are talking about how much they love Bianca and wish to marry her. Bianca and Katherine enter and Baptista continues the conversation with the suitors. Due to the fact that Bianca is younger she has to wait for Katherine to wed before she can do the same.


If either of you both love Katharina,

Because I know you well and love you well,

Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure”.

(Act l, Scene i, 52-55)


When Baptista says this to the suitors he’s downgrading Katherine right in front of her face. He has just said I know you love my youngest daughter but my oldest daughter also needs a husband and because I know and love you very much you can just take her. He didn't ask if she wanted to marry either of them or even get married at all. Baptista was forcing marriage upon her.


Bianca, Katherine and their father are in their home talking about the marriage situation. Bianca has made it clear that she really wants to get married and Katherine is in her way. The three begin to argue about. Baptista is taking Bianca’s side and is telling Katherine that she has a devilish spirit.


Montana was at her little sister rehearsal dinner and one of ex-boyfriends, Langston came in. Montana was in the process of making an announcement. However, she was stalling because she didn't have anything to say because, she wasn't engaged. When Langston walked in she was in complete and utter shock. He begin talking and she was still in shock she didn't say anything. After he was finished his speech he got down on one knee and proposed to Montana. Her family cheered in the excitement they had for her. Her mother stood up and said of course she accepts. Sadly, Montana had no desire to marry Langston and her and her mother begin to argue.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 3.16.12 PM

Catherine downgraded and embarrassed Montana a tremendous amount by saying she should marry Langston. She had never met Langston before yet, she was ready to marry her daughter off to him. When Catherine did that she made it clear that she wanted a husband for Montana and she didn't care who it was,



Bianca, Katherine and their father are in their home talking about the marriage situation. Bianca has made it clear that she really wants to get married and Katherine is in her way. The three begin to argue about. Baptista is taking Bianca’s side and is telling Katherine that she has a devilish spirit.


What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see. She is your treasure, she must have a husband;"

(Act l, Scene ii, 75)



Katherine is feeling so low and pushed to the side its caused her to fight with her father. She tells him what shes feeling inside and she’s not a “devil.” Baptista thinks hes doing whats best for his daughters but he’s really doing whats best for just for Bianca. He’s not taking the time to figure of what shes acting the way she does or why she has just said that she feels like Bianca is her treasure. Not once does Baptista ask Katherine if she wants to get married or if she wants Bianca to get married first. Baptista is pushing Katherine away by forcing her to marry and she will continue to angry with him or resent what he’s forcing her to do.


Much like in “Shrew” Montana’s younger sister was big on marriage and  just  became engaged.


Montana was in her apartment when her mother and sister barged in with “big news.” Sheree was only a sophomore in college and she was engaged to the star football player. Her mother told her because he had so much money and such a bright future she had nothing to worry about so she accepted the invitations.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 3.17.04 PM

When Montana saw the ring and heard the announcement she knew her mother was going to pressure her into getting married. Montana’s mother knew her youngest daughter was ready for marriage she told her to do it for the wrong reason. If she continues to push Montana the same way as she pushed Sheree none of their marriages will last and both daughter will be full of anger with their mother.



In both “Shrew” and “Baggage Claim” a lot of themes were introduced over the course of the book/movie. The themes ranged from parental interference, societies attitude towards courtship/dating, honesty and deception in relationships and more. The main focus was parental push. Parental push in dating and marriage will mostly likely always end in disaster. Mainly because parents will pick a person that will make them happy and not their sons or daughters.  


Citations


Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew;. New York: Washington Square, 1992. Print.


Talbert, David E. "Watch Baggage Claim Online | Watch Full Baggage Claim (2013)."Baggage Claim. Watch32, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.


The Things We Do For Love

Books and movies are known to portray false love in today’s modern day society. Ever since childhood, children watch movies and T.V. shows that focus on fantasies of true love. Princesses, castles, princes, and other fantasies brainwash kids at a young age into thinking that this is how life should go and this is how relationships work. In the book “Taming of the Shrew”, Bianca and Lucentio are looked at as the dream couple with no issues or problems and live the fantasy marriage. In 50 first dates Drew Barrymore was in a car accident and now has no short term memory. Everytime she goes to sleep she forgets everything from the day before. After falling in love at first sight, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore hit it off immediately only for her take wake up tomorrow morning forgetting that she ever met him. Each day Adam Sandler goes out of his way and uses chivalry to win Drew Barrymore’s love every day. Love at first sight can happen with the same person at any time, any day.

“O yes, I saw sweet beauty in her face, Such as the daughter of Agenor had,” Act 1, sc. 1, Ln. 169


In ‘shrew’ Lucentio originally comes to Padua to attend the university but then lays eyes on Bianca. When he saw her he compared her Europa. In greek mythology it was said that Zeus saw her and fell in love immediately. Once he sets eyes on her, his goals and priorities change. He no longer attends school and spends his time in Padua trying to convince Bianca and Baptista that Bianca should marry him and not the other two suitors. The love at first sight hit him like a brick wall and changed everything.


The suitors in ‘Shrew’ and ‘50 first dates’ both have one goal in mind once they set their eyes on their girl. To marry their girls. In ‘50 first dates’ Adam Sandler first sets his eyes on Drew Barrymore in a café and immediately knows that he wants to be with her forever.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 9.19.09 PM

In the movie ‘50 first dates’ Adam sandler was a ‘fast’ man. He had sex with tourists who came to the island of Hawaii and sent them on their way. He was just spending time here before he took his research of seals to Alaska. Then, one day he walked into a café and set eyes on Drew Barrymore and changed his whole life. Love at first sight. For the first time, he was nervous and didn’t know how to approach her. When he finally spoke to her the next day they hit it off. This relates to ‘shrew’ because both couples fell in love with each other within the same day. But a big problem arose in ‘50 First Dates’ when they met up at the café again the next day.


Also, another comparison of these two couples are the hoops the men jump through to be together. In ‘50 first dates’ Adam Sandler goes through “50” different ways to get Drew Barrymore to fall in love with him. In ‘Shrew’ Lucentio must pose as Cambio, a school teacher, in order to get close to Bianca. Both men go through more problems in order to get the girl than an average man in real life.


“Basta; content thee, for I have it full.

We have not yet been seen in any house,

Nor can we lie distinguish’d by our faces

For man or master; then it follows thus;

Thou shalt be master, Tranio, in my stead,

Keep house and port and servants as I should

” Act 1, sc1 Ln. 204



In this section of the play, Lucentio has to dress up as Cambio, a school teacher, in order to get close to Bianca. Another problem Lucentio is faced with is the fact that Bianca’s father, Baptista, won’t let her marry before Katherine. It is difficult because Katherine isn’t a desired wife by most men. She is strong willed and has an adamant attitude. So Lucentio had to wait for Petruchio to take care of Katherine before he could come into the picture. Lucentio goes through all of this for one girl. He had a plan before he fell deeply in love with Bianca at first sight.


Lucentio and Adam Sandler are similar in the fact that each were willing to go extremely out of their way for one girl. Lucentio left school and Adam Sandler put his walrus research trip to Alaska on hold for Drew Barrymore. Even though both men put in great efforts to win their significant other’s love, the couple of problems that ‘Lucentio’ faced don’t compare to the hoops that Adam Sandler had to jump through from day one to have a future with Drew Barrymore.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 9.28.50 PM
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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 9.28.54 PM

In this section of ‘50 first dates’ Adam Sandler came to the café the next day expecting to have another beautiful day with Drew Barrymore. But then was surprised to find out that she had no recollection of ever speaking to him before. Once an employee of the café explained to Adam Sandler Drew Barrymore’s mental disability it became his priority to get her to love him forever. He thought maybe if he proved that he loved her and tried something new and ridiculous everyday, she would remember him and fall for him the way he fell for her the first time they met. Adam Sandler didn’t succeed in winning Drew Barrymore’s love the way he did times before the first couple of days trying to win her love again. In fact, more times than not he failed and she became angry with him. After what seemed like 50 attempts of trying to have a regular conversation to tricking her into talking to him. He figured out that she will never remember him the next morning. Making a very chivalrous decision he decided to stay with her and wake up next to her everyday and refresh her memory everyday of who he is and the relationship the two share.


‘50 First Dates’ and ‘Shrew’ have many similarities. But the most important similarity lies in what this book and this movie portray about society’s view on dating. In these two examples the men go after the girl giving all they have. Both men make their women their first priority at this stage in life, dropping all other things that seemed important before being in love became more important to them. ‘50 First Dates’ and ‘Shrew’ both support that you can fall deeply in love with the same person at any time, any day.


Citations:


Shakespeare, William . The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square Press, 1992. Print.


50 First Dates. Dir. Peter Segal. Perf. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Columbia Pictures, 2004. DVD.


Does In Charge Mean In Charge?

"The Taming of the Shrew” portrays the idea that men desire relationships for control and do not have a conscience while they are ‘taming’ their ‘shrew.’ Throughout this play a money-driven Petruchio plots ways to lure Katherine into his control. In “Ruby Sparks” a lonely author Calvin has control of his girlfriend Ruby from the start. This is because Calvin wrote a story about a girl who then came to life, claiming to already be his girlfriend. Calvin promises -to himself- not to abuse this power. However he breaks this promises and in the end frees his girlfriend from his control. Although Petruchio and Calvin are not originally after the same thing it is clear that they both want control over their romantic partner. For Petruchio when this control is official it is pleasant but expected. He feels no guilt for what he has done to cause this, only pride that it has happened. “Ruby Sparks” shows that these emotions have not lasted through to today. Calvin receives the power that he thought he wanted. However, he does not enjoy it and feels only guilt. These texts reflect that men’s emotions and ideas on romantic relationships have changed. They now view women as people and therefore have new ideas on what a ‘tamed’ woman is.


Petruchio “I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, the happily in Padua.”


(Act 1. Scene 2. Line 76.)


Petruchio claims to Hortensio that all he wants in a bride is that she is rich. He claims that this will be enough because he will be able to ‘tame’ a woman no matter how cruel. This shows that Petruchio expects a woman to be able to be ‘tamed’ and for her to bend to his every word. However, since this is an expectation and not a request or desire it is not an important part of his choosing a woman. He believes that right now all he requires is someone who is rich and he will be able to make them into whatever else he wants.


In the movie “Ruby Sparks” Calvin shows what his expectations are before meeting Ruby.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 9.30.43 PM

Harry "Quirky messy women whose problems only make them endearing are not real. Period." …. "That honeymoon shit doesn't last. Women are different up close. I love Suzy but she's a weirdo. Sometimes, she's mean as fuck for no reason. She's a person, you haven't written a person."

(18 minutes)


During this scene Calvin has his brother Harry read a manuscript that he’s written. It is a manuscript of a love story where he mainly describes this one girl, Ruby. His brother claims that Calvin’s expectations are too high, that he has not written someone who has the possibility of being real. Calvin gets defensive and states that he’s not finished yet. However, it is clear to see that Calvin disagrees with his brother’s claim and believes that everything he has written is a perfectly reasonable expectation for him to have.


Both Calvin and Petruchio have high expectations for what they want in a woman. However where Petruchio’s are vague Calvin’s are specific. Petruchio believes that he will be able to make a girl into whatever he wants at any given time. Calvin has already done this, he already decided what he wants and has written it down, trying to make it real. Both men are showing that they have control over the situation and they have the ability to create any girl that they like.

Petruchio “Why, there’s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.”


(Act 5. Scene 2. Line 197)


Katherine gives a long speech about respecting her husband during a dinner party. This is the first time that she is openly showing that he has power over her. Petruchio responds to this speech by calling her both a wench and Kate. Kate is a nickname that he gave her when he was first trying to gain control over her. He clearly feels no remorse about what he has done to change this girl. However, he is also not surprised by the fact that she changed. This is what he expected, for her to become someone entirely different solely because he wanted her to.


In the movie “Ruby Sparks” Calvin ends up in a very similar situation but he handles it much differently.


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Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 10.00.49 AM

Ruby: (in french) "But I don't know how to speak french

Calvin: See. Ruby speaks french.

R: (in french) what's happening?

C: I told you I could make you do anything."

(1 hour 25 minutes)


During this scene Calvin shows Ruby, his girlfriend, the immense control that he has over her. He shows her that whenever he writes anything it becomes true. Ruby gets angry and upset, she begins to cry and scream. Calvin clearly feels bad but can no longer control himself. The following scene shows him writing that Ruby is free. She then leaves the house and Calvin is left alone. Although Calvin had control over a girl he allowed her to leave. This is different than what Petruchio did. It shows that although men may still expect control it is not always what they want. It is more likely that they will think about what they have done and how they are affecting this other person. There is more guilt and more conscience.



Society’s, specifically men’s, view on society has changed since the time of Shakespeare. In the play “Taming of the Shrew” it is portrayed that men only want to control their women. This is the expectation so it does not evoke any emotions when it occurs. “Ruby Sparks” portrays that men today still have the same primitive desire to have control in romantic relationships. They believe in the beginning that this is what they want. However, if these men actually gain control it causes them confusion. A realization occurs that this is not what they were expecting. They are more able to feel emotions such as guilt. In some cases, such as the one in “Ruby Sparks,” men use this guilt to lose control. In today’s relationships men do not expect to have full control over their significant other although they may still desire it as an idea.  


Works Cited


Ruby Sparks. Dir. Colin Trevorrow. Perf. Paul Dano. 2012. DVD.


Shakespeare, William, and Thomas Goddard Bergin. The Taming of the Shrew;. New Haven: Yale UP, 1954. Print.


Anyone Can Fall in Love


Anyone Can Fall in Love

Comparing the play “Taming of the shrew” to the movie “Crazy, stupid, love”


As “The taming of the shrew” proves that a man can tame a women, and be with her not because he loves her, but because he wants what she has. In “Shrew” there isn’t real love between Petruchio and Kate he only wants to control and use her. In the 2011 movie “Crazy, Stupid, Love” the main character used to do the same but to every woman he came across. He used women all his life to get what he desired, but when he meets this one girl, he wants to change his ways and only be with one girl.


Though Petruchio and Jacob share the same ambitions in their life and both kept things from the people they were in a relationship with, their stories turned out to be quite different. In “Shrew” the Petruchio didn’t really care for Kate after they got to know each other. He just wanted one thing which was money. By contrast, in the movie “Crazy, stupid, love” despite his past ways, Jacob really cared about the Hannah and didn’t just want to use her for what she had. These two similar but different situations have occurred throughout many years. This shows how society hasn’t really changed over the years, people from this century still do things in relationships that were done hundreds of years ago. These texts reflect that it is acceptable for there to be lies and deception in a relationship without it ever being known as long as there is love somewhere in the relationship. But sometimes what might seem like true love can be disguised as something it’s not.


Why are our bodies soft, and weak, and smooth; But that our soft conditions and our hearts; Should well agree with our external parts?”


(Act V, Scene ii, Line 2673-75)


In this quote, Kate is giving a heartfelt speech to Petruchio in front of everybody at their wedding ceremony. She’s telling everyone what a wife should do for her husband. Petruchio now knows he has tamed her into following his every command. Knowing that Kate has fallen for him, he still only in it for the money, not her feelings.



The guy she met at the bar is now laying in bed with her, laughing and talking about their life’s. It’s not what she expected but she is slowly but surely falling for him.


In this scene from “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, Hannah decides to go home with the guy Jacob she met at the bar a couple of days ago. When she first met him, she had no intentions of getting to know him, but when she saw him again, she changed her mind. When they got there, they were both expecting to just have sex with each other, but what she expected never happened. “quote..” Unlike Petruchio who just wanted money from Kate, Jacob wanted more than just sex. As the night went on, he realized he wanted to know more about this girl he picked up from the bar. Even though things start to get serious between them, he failed to tell her about his past life.


“And for that dowry, I'll assure her of

Her widowhood, be it that she survive me”

(Act II, Scene i, Line 966-67)


In this quote, Petruchio is saying that Kate’s money will be the reason why he is going to marry her. He is only worried about his survival. He doesn’t care about anything else but the money her family owns. But Kate has no idea that he’s just trying to marry her for the money.


Jacob realizes that Kate could be someone he wants to spend the rest of his life with, even though he hasn’t told her that he was once a womanizer.



In this scene from “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, Jacob realizes that we wants to move further along with Kate in their relationship. Things started to get serious between them, but he still has a secret that he hasn’t told her. He doesn't plan on telling her but towards the end of the movie it comes up in a very strange and awkward way. This contrasts to “Shrew” because Petruchio continues on into marriage with Kate without telling  how he really feels. But in “Crazy Stupid, Love”  though it wasn’t Jacob’s plan to tell Kate, she still found out from someone else and continued to be with him despite his past ways. Deception can happen in any relationship and the truth may not even come to the light.



Today’s society is not much different from 30 about years ago. They are actually quite similar as shown in the play “The taming of the shrew” and the 2011 movie “Crazy, Stupid, Love”. People think that it’s ok to lie and kept secrets in relationships and marriages. Society hasn’t changed much from 30 years because every relationship or marriage has some kind of deception in it. In the future, society will most likely be the same as it has always been.


Bibliography:

- "Crazy, Stupid, Love." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.

- "The Taming of the Shrew." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.

- "The Taming of the - - -Shrew :|: Open Source Shakespeare." The Taming of the Shrew :|: Open Source Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.


Comparing "Taming Of The Shrew" to “Pretty Women”

The play “Taming Of The Shrew” , it tells the reader about what love is all about back in the 1600’s. In the book there was a young lady name Katherine. She will be getting married to a guy name Petruchio. He want her for the money that she will give him. 

In the 1990 movie “Pretty Woman” Richard Gere as Edward Lewis needs an escort for some social events. He hires a beautiful prostitute, Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, who he met on Hollywood Blvd. Petruchio and Julia Roberts’ character are different because their stories take place in different years. However, these situations are similar because they both agree to be somebody’s lover. For Petruchio, he is not a prostitute, but he got paid to get married to Katherine.


“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.” - Petruchio

(Act 1, Scene 2, 67)


In this quote,  Petruchio describes why he really came to Padua. He wanted a rich wife, and he didn’t care how they look or how old they were. This shows He doesn’t care about the women he’s going to marry. He’s only in it for the money. made the guy would get pay to get married to the lady of their choice. 

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Screen Shot 2013-12-03 at 9.17.40 PM

In the movie, there a scene with Edward on the phone with Philip talking about meeting up with a business associate. Edward is looking at Vivian in the tub as he on the phone. Vivian is also singing with headphone on.


“Housekeeping is singing” said Edward

“Edward, I know a lot of nice girls.” said Philip 

“No, you don't, besides, I already have one. You just concentrate on finding out what Morse is up to. I'm on my way. ”said Edward

(Hang up the phone)

“Don't you just love Prince ?” said Vivian  

“More than life itself.” said Edward

“Don't you knock ?” Said Vivian 

“Vivian, I have a business proposition for you.” said Edward


This Show Edward has a plane to us Vivian love for other things. Most people don’t hire an escort to be with them at a business. He only did this because he didn’t want to be alone when he went to the meeting. 


“When will he be here?” - Baptista

(Act 3, Scene 2, 38)

In this quote, after Petruchio got Katherine he knew that he could do anything now. He was late to his own wedding. In Petruchio mind he knew that he won the challenge. The challenge was to see if he could get married to Katherine. This show that the person that did something to go someone love changes after they get what they want.

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Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 8.51.59 AM

In the movie, there a scene with Edward takes Vivian to a pole game. This is where Edward show off Vivian to people he knows. Now people are starting to ask question like where did  you meet Vivian.


“Don't be ridiculous.” said Edward 

“How do you know that this girl... hasn't attached herself to you because she's bringing information back to Morse ? This happens ! Industrial espionage” said Philip

“Phil, Phil, Phil !  Phil, listen to me.” said Edward

 “What ?” said Philip

“She's not a spy. She is a hooker.” said Edward

“Oh ! She is a hooker.” Said Philip 

“I picked her up on Hollywood Boulevard.” Said Edward


This show that Edward didn't care what people will say when they found out that she was a hired a escort to show off to people. He knows that he have alot of money and he can pay her anything. This show that Edward and Petruchio and the same because they don't care what the person their with thinks. The will hurt their feeling. Most people can see this in the movie "Pretty Woman" and "Taming Of The Shrew" are the same when It come to the guys.

Works Cited :

Pretty Woman. Dir. Garry Marshall. By J.F. Lawton. Perf. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. 1990. DVD.


Shakespeare, William, and Thomas Goddard Bergin. The Taming of the Shrew;. New Haven: Yale UP, 1954. Print.


Is Love a Business or Something More

In the Taming of The Shrew, marriage is treated as a form of business transaction.

Kate’s suitor, Petruchio, only sees this as a way to gain more wealth and land.

In a way it is similar to the Captain in The Sound of Music, who also see marriage as a business transaction. However, even though both Petruchio and the Captain sees marriage as business, the Captain wasn’t always like that.


"I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again.- Petruchio"

(  Page-91 Act-2 scene-1 line-234)


This was the line that Petruchio said to Kate when he was the one trying to woo her. This line shows that Petruchio will hit back if kate were to hit him again, showing that he have little affection for her. To Petruchio this wedding is only a business trip. Since Kate is slapping Petruchio, it shows that she does not wish to marry him.




Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 1.46.34 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 1.46.34 PM

Within this scene in the movie Sound of Music, the Captain is going to dance with the Baroness. The Captain is supposed to marry the Baroness do to business reasons even though his kids doesn’t like the baroness, nor does the baroness like the kids. The Baroness said this to the Captain “Darling, haven't you ever heard of a delightful little thing called boarding school?” This shows that the Baroness cares not care for the kids, but unlike kate, the Baroness does like the Captain.


"And, for that dowry, I’ll assure her of her widowhood, be it that she survives me, In all my lands and leases whatsoever. Let specialties be therefore drawn between us, That covenants may be kept on either hand.”


(Act 2, Scene 1, line 130-134)


In this scene Petruchio is talking with Baptista, Kate’s father. After Baptista told Petruchio what he will get for marrying Kate, Petruchio answered with the line above. This exchange is an exchange of goods, not about love at any point.

However, for the Captain is different. Even though he believes marriage is just business now, he used to believe in love.


ssss
ssss

Here is a scene of Maria and the Captain. As it can clearly be seen, the Captain is embracing Maria. This was an act he did not show to the Baroness for she was not someone the Captain loved. Maria on the other hand was able to make the Captain love again.


Back in the days of the “Taming of the Shrew” marriage is more of a business transaction. The father of the bride gives the groom his inheritance, while the groom guarantees the livelihood of the bride. This requires no love whatsoever.

Now on the other, marriage is more about love then anything else. The Captain rejected to be with the Baroness to go with the person he fell in love with.

Citations-

Taming of the Shrew

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/taming_shrew/full.html


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/

Composer: Richard Rodgers

Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II

Characters: Liesl von Trapp, Brigitta von Trapp, Gretl von Trapp, More

Playwrights: Russel Crouse, Howard Lindsay

Director: Robert Wise

Undecided

“Taming of the shrew” was play were almost all of the relationships involved lying. In the movie “LOL” a lot of the relationships were also started or ended because of lying.  However, although in “LOL” a lot of lies flew through the air like in the book, relationships became stronger through trust, not with lies. Compared to Taming of the shrew, were lying didn’t affect the characters relationships, LOL reflects that today trust is a key thing in relationships.

In the beginning scene of the movie, Lola finds out that her current boyfriend, Chase, has lied to her and cheated.


Screen Shot 2013-12-12 at 7.21.08 AM
Screen Shot 2013-12-12 at 7.21.08 AM

The lack of trust between the two broke them apart, instead or keeping them together. Since Lola knew that Chase could no longer be trusted, and the trust between them was totally gone, so she knew she had nothing to work with in her relationship. However, in Taming of the shrew, lies actually helped Lucentio gain a relationship with Bianca:


Act 1 sc 1 pg 43: “Tell me thine first...you will be schoolmaster”


Lucentio lied about who he really was, being able to get closer to Bianca. When he told her the truth, she was not concerned about the fact he lied to her father, friends, everyone- including herself. She was more impressed by the scheme. Compared to LOL, lack of trust and lies gained the characters a relationship, instead of losing them.


Lies weren’t just told to boyfriends or girlfriends either- the characters also lied to the parents in the play or movie a lot too-


Screen Shot 2013-12-12 at 7.23.42 AM
Screen Shot 2013-12-12 at 7.23.42 AM

Lola lied to her mother about different events in the movie, including the party she had, whether she had sex or not, and whether she was doing drugs. When her mother found out, the trust between them was gone and their relationship began to slowly die. In the scene were Lola’s mom found her diary, their relationship was forever scarred.


In contrast, in Taming of the shrew Lucentio lied to his father and Bianca’s father and their relationship was not affected at all.


Act 5 Scene 1 : “Here’s Lucentio, right son to the right Vincentio,

That have by marriage made thy daughter mine

While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne.”


Lucentio was supposed to be in school at the time, and instead lied to his father and Bianca’s. However, by the end of the book when Lucentio revealed himself, Baptista or his father were not mad or angry. His father instead seemed happy to see him, regardless of that fact that he disobeyed him, lied to everyone in town about who he was, and just made his father look crazy in public. This shows the deep contrast between that time and today- during shakespeare's time trust was hard to loose,  but today trust is easily lost and hard to get back.


Lucentio, and other characters, seemed to get off easy in the play when they lied. However, lying it is different today. Lola had a hard time during the whole movie because it was hard to tell who she could trust. Many of her boyfriends seemed to be cheating on her, and the lack of trust she had with the different characters just destroyed some of her relationships. However, she gained friends when she learned to trust them- even her rival, who finally spoke the truth at the end of the movie. This reinforces the belief that an audience wants to see the trusty friend to win in the end, and the unfaithful, lying rival to lose and be taught a lesson.


Source: 
LOL. Dir. Lisa Azuelos. Perf. Miley Cyrus and Douglas Booth. Megashare. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.
Shakespeare, William, and Thomas Goddard Bergin. The Taming of the Shrew;. New Haven: Yale UP, 1954. Print.

Stranger Than Shakespeare

Stranger Than Shakespeare

Comparing “The Taming of the Shrew” to “Stranger Than Fiction”


With today’s ideals in mind, most people would assume that love comes before marriage. The opposite is the case in The Taming of the Shrew.  The protagonist, Petruchio, gets married to Katherine in the beginning of the play without really knowing her. The marriage was for his own financial gains and also so two other suitors could have the ability to marry Katherine’s sister, Bianca. At the end of the play, after a score of mental games played by Petruchio to “tame” Katherine, she gives a long, emotional speech that displays her love for him and he goes on to tell of his love for her.

Stranger Than Fiction revolves around Harold Crick, an IRS agent who lives a monotonous, receptive and droll life. One day, everything changes. He begins to hear an author in his head narrating his life to extraordinary accuracy. He recognizes the voice to be that of a famous author he once saw on television. The author reveals that Harold is going to die and he has to find her and convince her to change the end of the story (and his life) before it’s too late. At the same time, Harold takes on the task of auditing a baker, Ana Pascal. Harold is uncomfortable with the narrations made by the author when he’s around Ms. Pascal. The author makes Harold realize that he’s subconsciously falling in love with her. Romantic love is approached differently by both men in both scenarios. This shows that romantic love is approached differently in today’s society.


In Act Two: Scene 1 of Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio says, “What, with my tongue in your tail? nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman.”


This is a quote from when Petruchio is first meeting Katherine. He is crude and inappropriate at first, intentionally. He is trying to be funny. This was Shakespeare’s version of comedy. Petruchio is aware that Katherine is known as the mean sister and takes a jab at her sense of humor or perhaps just tries to make her feel uncomfortable. Petruchio goes on to confirm that he was just kidding and he tries to show her that he is a respectable man. Harold Crick is in a similar situation. He runs into Ana Pascal on a bus and tries to interact with her in a non-auditing manner.

Harold: How are you?

Ana: I’m lousy, I’m being audited

Harold: Of course

Ana: By a real creep too

Harold: I- I think I owe you an apology. IRS agents, we’re given rigorous aptitude tests before we can work. Unfortunately for you we aren’t tested on tact or good manner so I apologize... I... Ooggled you.
Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 7.13.44 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 7.13.44 PM

In this short exchange of dialogue, Harold attempts to show Ana that he’s a respectable man by apologizing for an incident that happened a few days prior in which he began to fantasize about her and blatantly stare at her breasts. Harold’s crude actions weren’t intentional, like Petruchio’s. Because this movie takes place about four hundred years after all of Shakespeare’s plays were written, courtship is approached very differently by the two men.


In Act One: Scene 1 of Taming of the Shrew, Hortensio says, “There's small choice in rotten apples.”


Hortensio and Gremio are the two suitors that are going after Bianca, Katherine’s younger sister. Hortensio and Gremio are friends and they have to work together to get past the only obstacle in their way: Bianca cannot get married until Katherine gets married. They have to narrow down the already small pool of men who would be willing to marry her for them, so they could achieve their goals. In the beginning of Stranger Than Fiction, Harold Crick goes to a therapist about the voice in his head. The therapist listens to him and then tells him she thinks he’s schizophrenic. He tells her that he isn’t schizophrenic and she tells him that if his condition were real, she’d refer him to a literary expert. Harold then goes to Professor Jules Hilbert, a Literature Theory professor. After Professor Hilbert agrees to help Harold, he explains the theory that all works of fiction can be narrowed down to two categories: Comedy and Tragedy. He explains it in simple terms to Harold, “Tragedy you die, Comedy you get hitched.” They go on to try to figure out which story Harold is living in.


Professor Hilbert: Most comic heroes fall in love with people who are introduced after the story has begun, usually people who hate the hero initially. Although I can’t imagine anyone hating you, Harold.

Harold: Professor Hilbert, I’m an IRS agent. Everyone hates me.

Professor Hilbert: Ah ah good, have you met anyone recently who might loathe the very core of you?

Harold: I just started auditing a woman who told me to get bent.

Professor Hilbert: Well that sounds like a comedy.


Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 9.47.16 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 9.47.16 PM

Similarly to Hortensio and Gremio, Harold and Professor Hilbert are trying to narrow down a pool of possible people. In The Taming of the Shrew they’re looking for a man to marry Katherine. In Stranger Than Fiction they’re looking for the possible love interest that would determine whether Harold is living a Comedy or a Tragedy. He later goes to Ms. Pascal’s bakery with a small moleskine journal that he uses to record the instances that would make the story a one of the two defining genres. He spends the whole day going through Ana Pascal’s receipts while she spends the whole day making sure his day is awful. He chalks his story up to being a Tragedy. When he’s on his way out, Ana makes him cookies and they spend time talking. Harold upsets her by turning down a box for the rest of the cookies and feels terrible about it. Days later he can’t get the smell of cookies or the thought of Ms. Pascal out of his head. It starts to affect his work and they give him a paid vacation that he spends trying to court her.

By the end of the movie, Harold and Ana are in love. By the end of Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio and Katherine are in love. Both men achieve their end goal while pursuing it in vastly different ways. If Harold Crick had approached Ana Pascal in the same way that Petruchio did with Katherine, the movie would have been very different and they most likely would not have fallen in love. In Petruchio’s time, his tactics were commonplace. That goes to show how much society has changed in the last 400 years.


Comparison of Two Movies

My Big Fat Greek Wedding::Taming of the Shrew


My Big Fat Greek Wedding contains characters that are similar to ones in Taming of the Shrew. Maria Portokalos, the mother in MBFGW, has an issue with the way her husband, Gus, thinks. Gus believes that he is superior, however, he doesn’t know that his wife really has the upper hand in the relationship. MBFGW and Taming of the Shrew relate to each other because Maria and Katherine give their husbands what they want, but sneak in their own rules as well.




Katherine: “Then God be blest, it is the blessed sun.

                 But sun it is not, when you say it is not,

                 And the moon changes even as your mind.

                 What you will have it names, even that it is,

                 And so it shall be so for Katherine.” (IV.vi.21-15)


Petruchio is arguing with Katherine because he says that the moon is the sun and she disagrees. She eventually gives in and makes him feel empowered. Then she replies back with a statement that should’ve insulted Petruchio, but instead makes his ego larger.


Following and relating to the quote above, is a screenshot from My Big Fat Greek Wedding:

Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 8.26.59 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 8.26.59 PM

In this scene, Maria and her sister, Voula, wanted to trick Gus into letting his daughter, Toula, leave work at their restaurant, Dancing Zorba’s, to go work at Voula’s travel agency. In order to do that they had to make him believe that it was his idea. Their plan worked when Gus pointed at Tula (the one with the coffee in her hand) and said, “Send Tula!” Maria praised Gus as he bragged about how a man “knows.”


KATHERINE: “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.” (II.i.223)


Katherine is explaining that she will not be submissive and Petruchio is saying that women should always have submissiveness. Katherine is relentless, so she kept going on about how “waspish” she can be.


Following and relating to the quote above, is a screenshot from My Big Fat Greek Wedding:


Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 8.24.47 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 8.24.47 PM
In this scene, Maria is making her point to Gus that women can be smarter than men, after he mistakenly said that his daughter, Tula, is “smart enough for a woman.” Once she begins to give examples of how powerful she is, Gus silences and Maria gets her superiority in the relationship. Maria’s stance shows her control in this scene and possibly the whole movie. The position of Gus’s head shows that he is not the dominant one in the relationship.



Characters like Katherine and Petruchio, in Taming of the Shrew, and Maria and Gus, in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, completely relate to each other because they all play similar roles. Maria and Kate both can be submissive, but always sneak a level of authority into their relationship. Gus and Petruchio think that they “rule” their wives, but also know that their wives have the ability to be powerful and take the lead.





Sources

Taming of the Shrew (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061407/)

- Director: Franco Zeffirelli

- Writers: Suso Cecchi D’Amico (screenplay), Franco Zeffirelli (screenplay), Paul Dehn (screenplay), William Shakespeare

- Characters: Elizabeth Taylor (Katherine), Richard Burton (Petruchio)


My Big Fat Greek Wedding (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9kRSReJLo)

(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259446/)

- Director: Joel Swick

- Writer: Nia Vardalos

- Characters: Michael Constantine (Gus), Lainie Kazan (Maria)

35 & Shrewing

35 & Shrewing

Comparing and contrasting the deceptions versus honesty of marriage between the film, “35 & Ticking” and Shakespeare's “Taming of the Shrew”.



After reading Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, readers’ minds are implanted with the idea that romantic love is a myth. If this is the case, what is the point of marriage? Shakespeare’s “Shrew” argues control, the thrill of the journey, etc. Although couples in both “Shrew” and the 2011 film, “35 and Ticking” come to grips with their tactics differently, they covertly bestow the idea that the importance of marriage is resorting to the drastic measures of deception over honesty in order to obtain what one desires most from the other.



In “Shrew”, Petruchio forces Katherine into marrying him. On the day of their wedding, he carries her off to his home where he starves, manipulates, beats and humiliates her and, on top of that, deprives her of sleep in the sense of actually “taming” her–to her demise, of course. In the end of the book, Katherine recognizes Petruchio’s hostility as a means of love and breaking her bad habits to make her the dutiful wife that women of that era were expected to be. All along, however, Petruchio went after Katherine for her fortune, as he is a man of greed rather than romance. A similar couple: Victoria and Austin, In “35 and Ticking”, have been married for 3 years. Only this time it is the wife Victoria who is deceiving her distant husband to get what she wants from him–children. In the end, Victoria fails at this and unfortunately loses Austin. Both text, aside from the distinct humor of their times, relate as they reflect the idea that for centuries, couples believe that whether romantic love exists or not, deception is the only route to self-success in a marriage because the deceiver is the dominant partner.



“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 Flourentius’s love,

As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd

As Socrates’ Xanthippe, or a worse,

She moves me not, or not moves 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 wealthy, then happily in Padua.”

(Act I, Scene ii, 66-77)


shrew-rogers02w
shrew-rogers02w

At this point in the play, Petruchio and his servant arrive in Padua and is convinced by his friend Hortensio to woo Baptista’s eldest and shrew of a daughter–Katherine. Petruchio, learns that Katherine is very rich and tells Hortensio that no matter how old, ugly or rude a woman is, as long as she is rich, she qualifies as the perfect wife for him. It is here that Petruchio reveals that his only intention in life is to wed wealth rather than a wife. He is straightforward and honest about his selfishness and his unconcern for romance to everyone except the Baptista family, especially Katherine. He instead woos her and tricks her into believing he is truly in love with her. This is Petruchio’s best chance at succeeding in his scheme.


In “35 and Ticking”, Victoria is revealed as the Petruchio of her marriage as her and Austin have continuous heated discussions on whether it is time to start a family together or not.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 1.41.46 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 1.41.46 PM

In this scene, Victoria complains that at she does want to wait until she is 40 while Austin claims she is putting too much pressure on him and rushing into having a baby. Victoria argues that, “Do you know how degrading, how embarrassing it is to have to beg someone you committed your entire life to to have a baby? The fact is, I’m ready to start a family.” To her surprise, Austin says, “I am tired of you putting so much pressure on me. I can’t even enjoy having sex with you because I feel like you’re trying to set me up. Fact number one, I know your body better than you do. I know what time of the month you’re ovulating and that’s when you really put pressure on me to have sex with you.”

The scene ends with Austin saying one of the reasons he does not want to have a baby is because he isn’t sure how long they’re going to be married. Victoria, denying nothing, stands speechless as Austin walks out. In this scene, Victoria is called out on her scheme whereas her shrew of a husband does not submit to her deception and instead admits he is unsure of their marriage. Victoria, having already felt distant from Austin, thought that enforcing a child into their marriage would make them stronger as a couple. Though instead of being honest with him about it, she thought she could deceive him to accomplish her “power couple” goal.



Katherine, “I know it is the sun that shines so bright.”

Petruchio, “I say it is the moon.”

Katherine, “I know it is the moon.”

Petruchio, “Nay, you lie. It is the blesséd sun.

Katherine, “Then God be blest, it is the blesséd sun.

But sun it is not when you say it is not,

And the moon changes as your mind.”

(Act IV, Scene vi, 5-21)

shrew2
shrew2

By now in the play, Petruchio is pulling the strings on Katherine’s view on reality in the form of celestial events. Only it is now Katherine deceiving her husband, allowing her soul to play possum in order to please Petruchio and put an end to his merciless acts against her. This tactic is Petruchio’s way to tame his shrew of a wife into being obedient. Earlier in the play, the two would debate such as this and Katherine, blind of his schemes, would disagree and argue back. Now, she is the one pulling his strings, making him believe that he has tamed her well. Once Petruchio is convinced, Katherine will have achieved repossession of her own freedom.



Both the roles and the outcomes of and the deceivers of the marriage are reversed in the film, as Austin reacts to Victoria’s deception.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 7.50.57 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 7.50.57 PM

Austin comes home to see Victoria has packed his bag of clothes which is her way of telling him to leave the house. Austin replays his statement to Victoria from earlier, “The real reason I don’t want to have a baby with you, is because I don’t know how long I’m going to be married to you.” As he says this, he takes off his wedding ring and places it on the bed.

In their next scene, Victoria calls Austin and begs him to come home, upset  that he’s not coming home at all instead of apologizing and submitting to her, as she expected. Now Austin has become Petruchio and Victoria has become Katherine. While she has diminished to begging and submission, Austin, as Petruchio did to Katherine, deprives her of health–a healthy heart. Victoria is now the one in need of taming–at least this is how she believes Austin sees her. If the shoe fits, she must wear it. Victoria has failed indefinitely.



“Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee,

And for thy maintenance commits his body

To painful labour both by sea and land,

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,

Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe,

And craves no other tribute at thy hands

But love, fair looks, and true obedience,

Too little payment for so great a debt.”

(Act V, Scene ii, 140-183)

evan-builung-as-petruchio-irene-poole-as-katherina-adrienne-gould-as-bianca
evan-builung-as-petruchio-irene-poole-as-katherina-adrienne-gould-as-bianca

At the end of the play, Katherine submits indefinitely to Petruchio, with a changed view on what marriage means and the status of women versus men–whom she now recognizes as rulers such as: kings, governors and lords. Katherine honors  Petruchio as a loving, warm and securing husband and to love and obey is the least a woman can do for their husbands who are loving, warm and securing. Both Katherine and Petruchio have achieved their initial goals. Katherine has gained Petruchio’s ultimate trust and thus her freedom while Petruchio, although already has her money, has earned Katherine’s obedience, love and respect. This once “shrewd” couple supports the idea that deception equals success.


However, “35 & Ticking”’s outcome on deception greatly differs.

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 12.08.29 PM
Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 12.08.29 PM

Since Victoria and Austin’s dispute over family, his calling out on her scheme has abated her to the passive character Austin once was. In the end of the movie, Victoria signs the divorce papers. A year later, she sees Austin with a pregnant woman. He exchanges shrugs and pity looks at her while she cries at the sight. Austin, once realizing Victoria had deceived him, reclaims his dominance by dragging her to his feet as he moved on with another woman. Austin has tamed  Victoria, teaching her that the deceitful “baby trap” no longer works on men, and he will not stand to be the punchline of her joke.

It is also crucial to consider Austin the deceiver himself. After all, he had been hiding his doubts about the marriage, purposely becoming distant from Victoria, except when to have sex, and was eventually freed. Petruchio on the other hand, hid his true intentions for wedding Katherine, depriving her of all things critical to human beings, by not looking at her as a human being, but a sack of money. He even “justified” his acts by lying to Katherine that she could not eat because the food had been burnt and contaminated. Austin would justify his distance from Victoria by working late and go to the gym afterwards. In the end, both men got what they wanted through ultimate and disclosed deception.



The fact that both Victoria and Katherine yielded to their husbands is no  surprise the audience. For centuries women have been portrayed as weak and compliant partners, whereas Victoria’s character tried to prove so otherwise. Her failure and Katherine’s submission sets forth the idea that there are still men today who despise and wish to “tame” the spirit of strong women. By doing this, both Petruchio and Austin reclaimed their masculinity and succeeded in their own plans.


WORKS CITED


1. Shakespeare, William, and Thomas Goddard Bergin. The Taming of the Shrew;. New Haven: Yale UP, 1954. Print.

2. 35 and Ticking. Dir. Russ Parr. Perf. Kevin Hart, Megan Good, Tamala Jones, Nicole Ari Parker. Swirl Films, UpToParr Productions LLC, 2011. Film.

Joaquin's Media Fluency Slide

MJ Tech Slide Number #2
I chose this picture of Michael Jordan so that the picture will bleed of the slide. Then I decided to place my quote were it is so that it wouldn't be to close to the picture of Michael Jordan and it wouldn't be to close to the edge of the slide. I also did this to first attract the eye towards the quote then for it be attracted to the picture which is also why I wanted the background to be black. I chose the short quote so that it would be easy to understand in a few seconds also the picture of M. Jordan is there because he is consider very successful in sports and the quote goes with by saying if you try hard enough and you set your mind to you could go anywhere. I also choose M. Jordan as my background because he was the best to ever the game and he is still the main face of basketball today.

Ashlye Fitzmaurice Q2 Media Fluency

Ashlye Fitzmaurice Media Slide
Hello, and welcome to my slide. If you did not know, my name is Ashlye Fitzmaurice and I love fashion. But today, I would not be talking about what I love. Instead, I will be talking about why I decided to arrange my slide a certain way and why I decided to put the things I put on my slide. Based on the vocabulary provided by Presentation Zen, I created this slide. First, my Media Slide is visual. For instance, I included a visual image of fashion itself. Next, my slide has one point; that point is as simply as fashion is my passion.  In addition, the size of my words are big enough to read, they jump in your face! Furthermore, I did not leave to much empty space. I did not want too much going on at once. Therefore, I made the few points I had big. Lastly, my visual theme is simple and clean. My theme is not over the top or crazy; it is as clean as the clothes I am wearing right now!
Creating a slide was more difficult than I thought it was going to be. Learning the techniques of creating a slide really opened my eye and perspective towards other advertisements and slides. I learned that a slide should not have too much or too little words on it. You want to grab the person's attention to tell them a point. I think that's the most important lesson I learned about creating a slide. You want to grab the person's interest to state your point with just a slide or bill board. I learned a lot more, but that was the most important aspect of creating a slide that stood out to me. 
Ashlye Fitzmaurice Media Slide (1)
As you can probably notice, my second slide looks a little different. I changed a few things, but the first thing I changed was the text beneath my picture. I felt as if it had no use and it just brought the attention to too many areas. It may had confuse people so I decided to take it out. Next, after deleting the text, I decided to drag my picture all the way down. Now that I look at it, it looks so much better. It sort of pops in your face and that's exactly what I was achieving. Lastly, I rotated "fashion is my passion" to a certain angle because I wanted it to match up with my shoulder. In the other slide, it was off and it was not lined up correctly. So therefore, I measured it towards my shoulder and already, the background complimented to the color of my scarf.  

Nyla Moore's Q2 Media Fluency

Nyla's Tech Slide
Hi my name is Nyla Moore and this is my slide. I chose to pick 3 pictures to represent me because I didnt want to clutter my slide and I could make the pictures bigger. I chose this background because it was colorful but it didnt take away from the theme or other pictures of the slide. I chose this saying because it was short and straight to the point. I decided to make the word  "Nobody" and "me" bold to make the phrase stand out. I chose to make the words different colors to create contrast. I left some open space so my slide would not look cluttered. My slide has a visual theme, even though there are different pictures. My theme is that there is nobody else like me and the pictures represent the things I like to do. Hope you enjoy my silde!
During my presentation, I was given great advice on how to improve my slide. I was told to match the colors in the picture to the words quote I had. I was also told to delete the pictures and to find a clear picture for the background. I did all of this to my project. These tips made my slide easier to understand and a lot better. 
Nyla's Tech Slide (2)

Fariha's Slide

Hi, my name is Fariha sultana.I made the color of m slide because it is my favorite color.I put the word “muslim” because it defines my identity.And I put picture of Quran because it is the holy book we follow as muslims.Bangladesh is where I was born and it defines my culture.when I was in bangladesh I loved riding in boats with my friends and family.Family means a lot to me because they are always there for me.In my family i have an older brother and sister, two loving parents and two adorable nephews.


Fariha sultana

Griffin Gallagher Q2 Media fluency

Griffins Slide
I made my slide the way it was so it would be easy to remember after only a glance. I left lots of space so your eyes are drawn to the red text that pops from the white background and black text.  I also added the picture for people who don't understand the saying. Fishing is my passion there's nothing in the world I'd rather be doing.

Parents: Dictators of Love


Parents: Dictators of Love

(Chennai Express, “Taming of the Shrew”)

Yeah, I say my title twice. 'Cause I'm awesome.


Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare was a masterpiece of its time, like most of Shakespeare's works, and the plot was heavily driven by a fathers involvement in his daughters’ marital status. This method of thought is closely tied to the modern Indian movie “Chennai Express”. In Taming of the Shrew, the character Baptista sets multiple challenges for potential suitors of his young and beautiful daughter, while in the movie “Chennai Express” the father, Durgeshwara, merely puts up a constant ever changing wall of intimidation so that only the suitor who is willing to keep up and succeed through the changing conditions will be allowed to marry the girl. Though the way that the fathers display their protection is different, both are trying to assure love for their daughters by dissuading suitors.



“That is, not to bestow my younger daughter before I have a husband for the elder.”

Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 50-51


Baptista is a loving father, who merely wants what’s best for his daughters. However his eldest daughter, Katherine, is slightly sadistic, and enjoys the pain of others. In the second scene she’s in, she’s annoyed that she’ll be forced to marry. To release her anger,  Katherine ties her younger sister up, drags her around the house, and then slaps her in the face when she talks back. Naturally, all of the suitors were terrified that someone would have to marry her before anyone could court Bianca. Yet Baptista doesn’t seem to worry at all about his younger daughter losing any suitors because of the task he set before them. Baptista wouldn’t willingly try and harm his daughter’s prospects, he is instead trying to guarantee that only the ones who would actually attempt a risky task for his daughter would be able to get her.



Scary Dad Pahomov
Scary Dad Pahomov

In this scene Rahul meets the extended family of Meenalochni for the first time. In this scene the Rahul is introduced to Durgeshwara, or Durge,  as her fiance. Durge carries with him a passive intimidation, which serves the purpose of keeping anyone beneath him away. For Rahul, this is meant to assure that he is worthy even of being near Durge or his daughter Meena. Baptista had a more active interaction with the suitors while Durge is displaying a passive intimidation. Partly this is due to Baptista having multiple ellegible suitors for his daughter, while Durge had few. However, it’s also heavily dependant on Baptista merely being a merchant, while Durge was in the role of a local king. Baptista was passively intimidating class wise, but Durge had the military power to ensure that if he disliked someone they would be imprisoned for as long as he wished. Both fathers had different ways of intimidating suitors that weren’t good enough.



“Tis deeds must win the prize, and he of both that can assure my daughter greatest dower shall have my Bianca’s love.”

Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 135-136


In this scene a conversation is being had with Katherine’s suitor. The conversation is strange, because in a society of arranged marriages love isn’t the a large deciding factor. However because Baptista cares about his daughter, he is willing to set a test for the suitor. While the test may seem simple, Baptista sets a test to judge the suitor, and doesn’t merely observe their interactions. In order to protect his daughter, Baptista takes an active role in protecting her.
That's what you thought! Pahomov
That's what you thought! Pahomov


Tangballi is a local leader who was arranged to marry Meena. Unbeknown to him, Durge had recently changed his mind and allowed her new suitor Rahul her hand in marriage. Tangballi arrived with the intention to marry Meena and was personally delivered information of this change directly by Durge. Durge did this as a test, to see how Tangaballi would react under such pressure. If he didn’t love Meena enough to try for her, he wouldn’t be worthy of her. Both Baptista and Durge are setting tests to see how suitors will act, but again Durge takes a more passive role, while Baptista takes a more active one.


Ay,when the special thing is well obtained, that is, her love, for  that is all in all.

Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 135-136


This is from a conversation with a suitor of his younger daughter, Bianca. He’s trying to find out who’s able to help his daughter most, but also who is willing to give more to his daughter. He is saying that it is deeds that will win her, but in actuality it will go to the one who puts the biggest steak in the matter. Baptista wants his daughter to be supported by someone who is able to muster up the most resources for her.


Fight scene pahomov
Fight scene pahomov


Tangballi decided that the best way to prove his worthiness to Meena was to kill her suitor Rahul. Durge takes an active stance in this by preventing anyone from interfering with the fight. He even prevents his daughter from having a choice in it. He is purely interested in who is willing stake their life on the decision. Both Baptista and Duge have suitors battle, but they make the suitors fight on fields that the father is comfortable on. The merchant Baptista makes them fight over money, while the local lord Durge makes them fight to the death.


In both “Taming of the Shrew” and Chennai Express, though the focus was on the main characters, the plots were mostly shaped by the decisions of the parents. The actions of the characters are made to placate or impress the elders, and every move the elders make causes rippling consequences throughout the story. They both come from different stories, “Taming of the Shrew” being focused on the the trials faced by characters, and Chennai Express being focused on the interaction between the lovers, and the parent is more passive.  Both Baptista and Durge try and protect their children by setting tests for them, tests that range from tests of love and reactions to pure merit, whether it’s in the form of a fight or of the amount of money available.


Works cited:


Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square, 1992. Print.


Netflix. Perf. Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Netflix. N.p., 8 Aug. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013


Lukas Aznar Q2 Media Fluency

The reason that i chose this picture for the slide is i believe that is had a good backing to simplicity and also it showed my view point. I belive that if you believe in something, everything that you are doing should be working towards that goal. This is shown in my slide because i have a quote by will smith that says if you have a dream, every penny of yours has to be working towards that goal.
Another reason i chose this picture is because it shows a baseball field, this is something i am passionate about. This is something that i want to work my whole life at, and put in the maximum effort that i can. My baseball dreams and passions tie into the quote because this really shows that i want to put in as much effort and money and time as i can into baseball. This really represents me, baseball and hard work. Effort and dedication is what describes my personality. My slide not only shows simplicity, but also a complex sense.
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