Last week, I predicted that the Christopher Sly story was foreshadowing a change in character of Katherina. I also predicted that Katherina would change as a result of a change in enviornment (in this case being forced in marriage with Petruchio). Ultimatly, Katherina would be taimed, becoming a new person.
After reading Act IV and V I have found that for the most part this prediction was true. Just like Christopher Sly, Katherina initialy resisted the circumstances forced upon her. This is clearly seen after her and Petruchio are married in the quote:
"I trust I may have leave to speak
And speak I will. I am no child, no babe.
...
I will be free
Even to the uttermost as I please in vords" (Act IV.iii 73-80).
Here, Katherine is trying to protect her personal independence by standing up to Petruchio when he is about to throw away the cap the tailor made, which she likes and wants to keep. However, despite standing up to Petruchio, Petruchio does not listen and still does what he wants to her, dominating her. Eventually, Katherina gives in to Petruchio and submits to his will. This occurs when they are arguing about the sun and the moon in the quote, "What you will have it named, even that it is, And so it shall be still for Katherine" (Act VI.vi. 22-23).
At this point however, Katherine has ongly given in to Petruchio, nothing about her character has truely changed. This is just like when Christopher Sly accepts he really is a lord, but still hasn't come to kile being a lord yet.
The final transition, where Katherina comes to truely enjoy being married (Just as Christopher Sly came to enjoy being a lord) doesn't occur till Petruchio and her kiss on the street in Act V. In this scen Katherina refers to Petruchio as her "love" and "husband" all without the usual cynical tone. Even Petruchio drops his frustraion with her and refers to her as "my seek Kate" (Act V.i 130). Thus it is clear that theChristopher Sly story really was foreshadowing many of the plot elements of the main play.
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