Behind The Mask

Self-esteem and independence are important characteristics in a person because they enable people to do as they wish and not the will of others. In The Taming of the Shrew, Katherine had a low self-esteem which enabled Petruchio to bend Kate to his will. Most would not agree that Kate has a low self-esteem, but she reveals it on her wedding day when Petruchio is late. “Yet never means to wed where he hath wooed. Now must the world point at poor Katherine and say, “Lo there is mad Petruchio’s wife, if it would please him come and marry her(Act3,Scene2,Line17).” This illustrates that Katherine is afraid to never be married and be alone forever, while everyone talks about how she was left at the alter. Independent is another attribute that Kate possesses because she does not meet the standards that men enforce on women.