English 3 · Pahomov · A Band — Science Leadership Academy @ Center City

Visual Essay

Posted by Shilo Kendall in English 3 · Pahomov · A Band on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 9:40 pm

The Costs in Modern Day Relationships

Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, is a book about a family at odds due to marriage. The play involves many characters and subplots with specific characters, but there is one subplot that is the forefront of the play. This is Bianca's suitors, Hortensio and Lucentio, as they fight over who will marry Bianca. In comparison, Wes Anderson's Rushmore has a similar plot to Taming of the Shrew. In Rushmore, the main character, Max Fisher, is in love with a teacher, Mrs.Cross. Max does everything possible to be with her but he does not know of his recent close friend, Mr.Blume, also taking a romantic interest in Mrs.Cross.

In both of these pieces there is a fight for the love of another. Max and Hortensio both desire to be with the girl of their dreams but there is another person in the way. Even though Max is more extreme with his wooing than Hortensio, they still both end up getting out-staged by the other man, or in this case Mr. Blume and Lucentio. Max tries to change himself in order to woo Mrs.Cross through extreme ways. Both Lucentio and Hortensio do the same by disguising themselves as teachers to get closer to Bianca, in order to woo the one they love. Audiences expect that the characters have to work hard to win the affection of someone they love. But, in modern day media, people expect to see the costs that go along with fight for the other person's love.

"Bianca: Call you this "gamut"? Tut, I like it not. Old fashions please me best. I am not so nice To [change] true rules for [odd] inventions. "

(Act 3, Scene 2, 82-84)

In the Taming of the Shrew, Bianca is getting taught a musical scale from Hortensio, who adds a secret message into it to woo Bianca into marrying him. Her response was that she was strongly not interested in him. She then left. Hortensio tried to woo Bianca but she denied his attempt. Hortensio was doing something extremely similar to Lucentio to describe his situation, but it did not work out in his favor as it did for Lucentio. Hortensio did not work very hard for Bianca's love, yet he demanded throughout the musical scale that she will be his.

A similar situation happened in Rushmore between Max Fisher and Mrs.Cross.

Image result for rushmore gif

In Rushmore, Max walked up to Mrs.Cross while she was grading papers in the library. He poured her a glass of lemonade and sat down across from her with some random school books. She then looked at him and said, “has it even crossed your mind that you are far too young for me. We don’t have a relationship Max.” Before this, Max restored the Latin language program at Rushmore due to Mrs.Cross’ love for it and then proceeded to try and build an aquarium for the many fish in her class room. Even though Max went through with all of these things for Mrs.Cross, he was still denied her love.

This was similar to how Hortensio tried to woo Bianca with his gamuet, but within the movie, Max wanted to be with Mrs. Cross, no matter what the cost. Max did not give up after this interaction with Mrs.Cross, nor did he when he found out Mr.Blume was romantically involved with her. This shows how now audiences want to see risks being taken in order to be with the person the character is pursuing. While in Taming of the Shrew Hortensio attepted once to be with Bianca and never tried again, in modern day pieces, giving up is not an option.

"Bianca: Now let me see if I can conster (interpret) it. Hic ibat Simois, I know you not; hic est [Sigeia] tellus, I trust you not; Hic [seterat] Priami, take heed he hear us not; regia, presume not; celsa senis, despair not. "

(Act 3, Scene 1, 44-47)

In the Taming of the Shrew, Lucentio preceeded to teach Bianca Latin while Hortensio tried to tune his instrument. As Lucentio talked, he snuck in a secret message stating who he really was and how he felt about her. She understood his message and created one of her own. She did not completely reject him, but she wanted to get to know him. After Lucentio’s one attempt of trying to be with Bianca, he was accepted by her even though he disguised himself as someone else in order to be near her. It shows how Bianca doesn’t care who he is but only cares that he is willing to be with her.

A similar romantic interaction happens in Rushmore between Mrs.Cross and Mr.Blume.

Image result for rushmore gif

In Rushmore, Mr.Blume takes an interest in Mrs.Cross. Over time, he stalks her and stops by her house in order to see her. He went to her house, knocked on the door, and waited for her to come out. He asked her if she wanted to go for a walk and she didn’t reject. This moment then sparked their romantic relationship. Through this moment they talked about their lives which connected them even further. They then kissed.

This was similar to the way Lucentio and Bianca’s first romantic encounter went. Lucentio wasn’t denied and they ended up getting married. After Mrs.Cross and Mr.Blume’s first romantic interaction went, they eventually kissed. But unlike Taming of the Shrew, Mr.Blume does not end up marrying or being with Mrs.Cross at all. She finds out Mr.Blume is married and dumps him, but he still tries to win her over. This shows how audiences like it when there is a loving relationship, but like to see the risks people are taking, such as Mr.Blume cheating on his wife in order to make himself happy, unlike Taming of the Shrew where a young man wanted to be with a pretty girl and it happened.

"Hortensio: But I have cause to pry into this pendant. Methinks he looks as though he were in love. Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble To cast thy wand’ring eyes on every stale, Seize thee that list! If once I find thee ranging, Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing."

(Act 3, Scene 2, 90-95)

In the Taming of the Shrew, Hortensio was rejected and stated his last argument on why Bianca should pick him or even think about marrying him instead of Lucentio. This is the last we hear of Hortensio till it comes to Lucentio and Bianca’s wedding, which he is involved in. Lucentio and Hortensio never actually fight or try to hurt the other through this process of trying to be with Bianca. This shows how there was work to get to this position, but that Hortensio easily gave up since he knew he would never have the chance of being with her.

In Rushmore, Max is the king of revenge.

Image result for payback scene rushmore gif

In Rushmore, Max finds out about Mrs,Cross and Mr.Blume’s relationship. Max then feels the need to destroy Mr.Blume’s life in order for him to have a chance again. Max ruins Mr.Blume’s marriage and his relationship with Mrs.Cross by talking to Mr.Blume's wife about her husbands cheating. Mr.Blume then spirals out of control and runs over Max’s bike. This feud goes on for awhile till Max moves on and Mr.Blume becomes depressed.

Max and Blume’s interaction after Max finding out about Mrs.Cross is very different from Lucentio and Hortensio’s interaction. Hortensio lets Lucentio be, as a sort of silent surrender and praise of Lucentio winning. In Rushmore, Max and Blume have a full raged war over who can destroy the other, leading to both of them losing the girl.

Max moved on in the end of the movie and was happy with Margaret Yang, his new girlfriend, which further shows how people only want to see the costs and a happy end result, no matter who won. In the Taming of the Shrew, Hortensio did move on but was unsatisfied by his choice in who he married. He was upset and hated his wife. Through this it shows how in modern day pieces, the costs are the climax to keep the audience interested, while the end leaves them satisfied with a happy relationship as the outcome. This shows how audiences like to see the risks taken by the characters for someone they love.

Visual Essay- Aysha A. Siddiquee

Posted by Aysha Siddiquee in English 3 · Pahomov · A Band on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:50 pm

Parenting to Deception

Taming of the Shrew and Revenge of the Bridesmaids

When thinking of Taming of the Shrew and Shakespeare we generally associate them with being very ancient and irrelevant but the truth is Shakespeare still lives within our stories and movies even. It only has a modern twist on it based off of the change in generation. Through having more access to not only materials but plots. Even after over a hundred decades you can still find very common themes from Shakespeaker’s Taming of the Shrew in David Kendall’s and Bob Young’s Revenge of the Bridesmaids.

In Taming of the Shrew the father of the very ill- tempered Katherine and Bianca, Baptista is focusing on getting both of his daughters married off to the wealthiest. Revenge of the Bridesmaids is not far off this same ideology, the mother of the “bride” sets her up with a wealthy man a part of the plot due to bankruptcy. Leading to a fake pregnancy that affects names of the play and your movie selection, plus an introduction to the characters you're talking about and their basic situation.

Whether we like to admit or not interference of parents with relationships and or marriage are very clear themes in both the past centuries and our day and age. In all eras, families expect their children to maintain the same levels of wealth when they get married. However, in modern times, audiences do not side with maintaining or having to marry someone because of their wealth… Instead, they expect that… they will marry someone out of having love for them where wealth should not play a role.

“Content you gentlemen. I will compound this strife. '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, 361- 363)

In Taming of the Shrew in this scene Baptista is expressing his expectations for the suitors for his daughter. So he is stating whoever can offer the most dowry also known as money will be the one to have his daughter. So this clearly presents the interference of parents in courtship, so having to marry someone for wealth instead of love.

Agree to a loveless marriage to maintain family wealth

In other words it is clear to see in this scene that Caitlyn the “bride” is clearly stating to her mother that she is only agreeing to the marriage for her mother and the money since her mother has run through all their money and is going bankrupt. Caitlyn also states very clearly she doesn't mind a loveless marriage as long as e eyervything in the wedding goes her way. In comparison to Taming of the Shrew like Baptista, Caitlyn’s mother is the one in charge of her courtship and she too is only creating this courtship for the money. In this case it is only a minor difference of Caitlyn marrying to maintain the family’s money while Baptista already had enough money he was just going to focus on growing his wealth with the dowry he would receive.

“ Hortensio: I promised we would be contributors

And bear his charge of wooing whatsoe’er

Gremio:And so we will, provided that he win her ”

(Act 1, Scene 2, 218-220)

In Taming of the Shrew Hortensio tells Petruchio that if he marries Katherine and can court her then they meaning the other suitors as well would pay Petruchio for that and so basically this clearly portrays that this is a plot designed to get Katherine out of the way so that they finally could approach Bianca and one of them could marry Bianca, Katherine's younger sister. So in order for Bianca to be courted, Katherine would have to be married off first. So this is where Petruchio comes in to marry Katherine. So the plot revolves around Katherine being courted so the suitors can have access to Bianca. As we can also see this in Revenge of the Bridesmaids that the plot that was designed in Revenge of the Bridesmaids revolved around Caitlyn being able to get to Tony, the “groom” who has the money that Caitlyn’s mother is aspiring for since they themselves have used up all their money. So Caitlyn’s mother creates a plan that includes Caitlyn saying that she’s pregnant so that Tony feels obligated to marry her. In both Taming of the Shrew and Revenge of the Bridesmaids both Petruchio and Caitlyn are used for the needs of the others. Petruchio is used to clear the path for other suitors so they have access to Bianca and Caitlyn is used to get access to tony’s money for her mother. They both are promised awards as well Petruchio is promised money and Caitlyn is promised her perfect wedding. We can clearly see that in both plots that they meaning Katherine and Caitlyn are both being used as a part of a plot that has an interference of the parents and as well as wealth

Everything is not always what we see

In this scene above in Revenge of the Bridesmaids it is very clearly portrayed how Caitlyn was a part of a Plot created by her mother. Where she faked being pregnant by using the urine of one of her bridesmaid’s sister who was pregnant. So the pregnancy would obligate Tony to marry her. Her mother was in charge of this plot so that they would be able to get access to Tony’s money. So as we can also see this consistent pattern in The Taming of the Shrew based off of how the parents want to court their children based off how much wealth the groom has to their name and has to offer.

“Hortensio: And yet I promise thee she shall be rich, And very rich. But thou'rt too much my friend, And I'll not wish thee to see her

Petruchio: And therefore if you know one rich enough to be Petruchio's wife ( as wealth is burden of my wooing dance )... I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua.”

(Act 1, Scene 2, 69, 75-77)

In The Taming of the Shrew in the scene above it is a conversation between Hortensio and Petruchio where Hortensio is telling Petruchio of Katherine and how she is wealthy so as a part of their plot they are drawing Petrucio in by highlighting Katherine’s wealth to which Petruchio is very captivated and he responds if you know someone rich enough to be my wife then I will give them happily. So basically the wealth is what plays a bigger role in this case instead of love this is also the very same thing we see in Revenge of the Bridesmaids where Caitlin says she would have not married Tony if it was not for his money and love has nothing to do with it and she never did love him, it was all for the money. So this is a very clear connection between the two pieces where it was all about the wealth and love played no role.

Caught in their own lie

In the clip above it shows Catherine being caught in her own lies that her mother created and she states very clearly that she never loved Tony and it was all for the money and if he didn’t have money then this would have never been a thing. As portrayed above it clearly shows Caitlyn stating that love has nothing to do the with arrangement the arrangement was made for money. So she clearly states that love plays no role the money is why she did it. So in comparison to Taming of the Shrew Petruchio never questions or stops to think of love. It was about the money for him as well.

In the end of it all it is very no matter what the time period parents will always play a role in your courting or relationship especially for reasons of wealth and maintaining it. This is a very clear representation in literature not only from centuries ago but in present day media as well. Both of these texts reflect how interference leads to either a prize or failure depending on who is looking at it, for Katherine she is thrown into a relationship based off of her father's decision and hunger for wealth which causes her to change who she is and for Caitlyn because of her mother's greed for wealth Caitlyn is now shamed by the entire town they both face consequences whether it be mentally or socially. The portrayal in both texts show that the interference of parents in courtship or relationships is what makes the child suffer in the end.

Visual Essay- Justin Stewart

Posted by Justin Stewart in English 3 · Pahomov · A Band on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:41 pm

About The Shrew

“Comparing The Taming of the shrew” to “About Last night”

The Taming of the shrew is a play written by William Shakespeare. The play is about a Man named Baptista who wants his two daughters Katherine and Bianca to be married. Petruchio is one of the Male protagonist that is looking for a wealthy woman. Petruchio and his friend Hortensio talk about marrying Petruchio potentially marrying Katherine. About Last night is a romantic comedy film made in 2014. It follows two Characters named Bernie Litko and Danny Martin. The two fall in love with two different women. Bernie is already in a relationship with a women named Joan and Danny falls in love with Joan’s friend Debbie in a bar. But before the two women arrive to the bar, Danny and Bernie begin to talk about women. In both the movie and the play, men talk about women when the women are not around. This reflects the ongoing expectation from audiences that men use women for their own needs.

“For I will board her, though she chide as loud

As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.”

(Act 2, Scene i, 96-97)

This quote was said by Petruchio when he was talking to Hortensio again about Katherine. Petruchio begins to tell Hortensio about his plan on how he will approach Katherine.

In this screenshot, Bernie and Danny are at work and they are talking about how Danny can ask Debbie out on a date. Bernie’s idea was that he should take her back to Danny’s place to chill. But Danny thinks of a better plan and tells Bernie that he will take her out to a restaurant. This scene relates to when Petruchio explains his plan as to Hortensio as to how he will approach Katherine.

"Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel, And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich, And very rich; but th'art too much my friend, And I'll not wish thee to her."

(Act I, Scene ii, 60-65)

This quote was said by Hortensio to Petruchio when the two men were having a conversation about Katherine. Hortensio tells Petruchio that he knows a rich woman named Katherine. But he was joking about introducing Petruchio to Katherine but Petruchio was interested in meeting Katherine after he heard Hortensio say that she was rich. This moment shows that Petruchio only wants to be with Katherine because of her wealth. Analyzing This quote, It shows the reader that men construct a plan before they actually talk to the women. This is an example of how men talk about approaching women in today’s society.

In this Screenshot, The audience can see that this scene takes place in a bar. Bernie and Danny talk about women before Joan and Debbie arrive to the bar. They talk about women in a sexual way and not their personality. Bernie is sitting next to his girlfriend Joan. His friend Danny is sitting across the table next to Joan’s friend Debbie. Joan begins to introduce Debbie to both Bernie and Danny. Then Bernie introduces Danny to Debbie by saying “This is Danny Martin.” This relates to Hortensio introducing Petruchio to Katherine.

"I know her father, though I know not her; And he knew my deceased father well. I will not sleep, Hortensio, till I see her; And therefore let me be thus bold with you to give you over at this first encounter,

Unless you will accompany me thither."

(Act I, Scene ii 102-7)

This quote was said by Petruchio to Hortensio during their conversation about Katherine. Petruchio is saying that he heard of Baptista but he hasn’t heard of Katherine. Then he says that he desperately wants to see her but not because he wants her for her personality but for her money. When reading this quote, The reader can tell that Petruchio is only interested in marrying Katherine for his own benefits.

In this Screenshot, Bernie and Danny are having another conversation about women. But this time they are both in a relationship. Danny and Debbie’s relationship appears to be fine but Bernie’s relationship is falling apart. Bernie says he’s only dating Joan for his own sexual needs. This relates to why Petruchio wants to marry Katherine. Petruchio only wanted to marry Katherine for his own financial benefits.

The Taming of the Shrew and About Last night have many similarities even though they are from two different time eras. The male ideas on dating in The Taming of the Shrew are the same ideas in modern society. Men talk about women when they aren’t around and this happens in both The Taming of the Shrew and About Last night.

The Wedding Shrew

Posted by Amado Alfaro-Allah in English 3 · Pahomov · A Band on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:29 pm

Amado Alfaro-Allah

English 3

4-11-18

Fire Stream

The Wedding Shrew

The Wedding Singer is a 90’s movie that takes place in 1985, it follows the story of a locally famous wedding singer named Robbie. When he tries to get married it turns out that his fiance, Linda doesn’t feel the same way so she abandons him at the altar and leaves Robbie. As Robbie’s depression sets in his gigs become more and more mediocre until he meets a waitress named Julia and instantly falls in love. Robbie later finds out that Julia is marrying a Wall Street shark named Glenn Gulia. Throughout the movie Robbie tries his best to woo Julia with his singing and save her from marriage.

A lot of the instances in the movie correlate with the book Taming of the Shrew, the theme of of men competing for the heart of a young promising women with sidekicks who help the hero win the heart of the lady. Lucentio’s wing man in Taming of the Shrew, is Tranio, when they switch places and Tranio keeps putting in good words of Lucentio, while the wingman in the wedding singer is Sammy, Robbie’s best friend . The main idea of both the book and the movie is that the competition of whoever can marry Julia the fastest. While Glenn is marrying Julia for her to just have a wife when he admits to Robbie he cheats on her contanlly and will continue to do so , like how Petruchio is marrying Kathrine for the money partly. While Robbie truly loves Julia and keeps her in his songs. Just like how Lucentio gives Bianca secret messages in latin. Both Robbie and Glenn want to marry Julia for different reasons but they both know if they marry her then for Glenn it would mean full access of Julia’s father money but for Robbie it would be true love.The whole idea of the Wedding Singer is that Robbie loves Julia so much, he would do anything while its not said if Petruchio truly loves Katherine or he is just marrying her for the money, like how Glenn’s goal to to marry Julia then cheat on her with other women. The money affects how people behave in marriage

(Act 1, Scene 2, Line 117-129)

O Tranio, till I found it to be true,
I never thought it possible or likely.
But see, while idly I stood looking on,
I found the effect of love in idleness
And now in plainness do confess to thee
That art to me as secret and as dear
As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was,
Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst.
Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.

This scene in the beginning of “Taming of the Shrew” happens when Luciento and Tranio just arrived in town and are getting ready to attend university until Lucentio sees Bianca for the first time and instantly falls in love. In this scene Lucentio is talking to Tranio how he has instanlly fallen in love with Bianca and asks Tranio to help him out. This connects to the scene in “The Wedding Singer” when Robbie is in a bar and realizes Julia is going to marry Glenn who will constantly cheat on her with other women. While he is talking about how much his loves her with his best friend Sammy, just like how Lucineto talks to Tranio about Bianca.

In this scene Robbie is having a drink with his friend Sammy right after he learns that Julia is really going to marry Glenn, Robbie explains to Sammy how much he loves Julia and wants to be with her but Robbie still thinks that Julia likes Glenn more because he has money in the stock market and a big house. I decided to compare this with the scene where Luciento talks to Tranio and explains his grand plan to Tranio to woo Bianca. Some constraints between the two are that when Sammy gives Robbie the pep talk about love he goes straight away to Julia’s house to try to tell her how he feels, while Lucentio quietly sits back and makes his plan to woo Bianca.

In the plan Lucentio once he begs Tranio to help him while they’re together, like in the movie Sammy and Robbie are talking in the bar while Robbie opens up to Sammy about his feelings about Julia.

(Act 3, Scene 1, Line 32)

Luciento: Hic ibat, as I told you before, Simois, I am Lucentio, hic est, son unto Vincentio of Pisa, Sigeia tellus, disguised thus to get your love, Hic steterat, and that “Lucentio” that comes a-wooing, Priami is my man Tranio, regia, bearing my port, celsa senis, that we might beguile the old pantaloon.

In this scene of “Taming of the Shrew” Lucentio and Hortensio are both giving their “lessons” to Bianca and during their lesson Lucentio while teaching Bianca latin he sneaks in some messages explain who he is and how he is trying to woo her. I compared this to the scene in “The Wedding Singer” when Robbie is playing guitar for Julia in an empty venue singing about love. The reason why I decided to compare these to together because while Lucentio is wooing Bianca directly with fake latin translation, Robbie is wooing Julia indirectly by singing his song about love, being together forever and being happy together married and partly how his ex fiance abandoned him.

Up until this point of the movie Robbie and Julia have spent a lot of time together, Robbie has been helping Julia plan her wedding with Glenn, when they’re trying to find a person to do the music at the wedding Julia convinces Robbie to show off one of his songs he wrote. When Robbie performs it in front of Julia she visibility is interested and is feeling somewhat woo’d to this point, she starts to fall for Robbie at this point. I decided to compare this part of the movie to the part of the book “The Taming Of The Shrew” to the scene where Luciento gives Bianca a fake message in Latin about him. While Bianca tells Lucentio he needs to try harder she is a little interested in him at this point. This scene is comparable because Robbie because although a bit indirect both male characters successfully build there chances with the female leads. While Robbie is focusing on singing his song Julia isn’t worried about money right now she’s thinking about him. Just like how Bianca didn’t know that Luciento was loaded with money but she did start to fall for him even though she almost knew nothing about him.

(Act 5, Scene 2, line 145-180)

Katherine: Fie, fie! Unknit that threat'ning unkind brow
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes
To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet or amiable.
A woman moved is like a fountain troubled,
Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty,
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.
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 labor 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.
Such duty as the subject owes the prince,
Even such a woman oweth to her husband.
And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,
And not obedient to his honest will,
What is she but a foul contending rebel
And graceless traitor to her loving lord?
I am ashamed that women are so simple
To offer war where they should kneel for peace;
Or seek for rule, supremacy and sway
When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.
Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth,
Unapt to toil and trouble in the world,
But that our soft conditions and our hearts
Should well agree with our external parts?
Come, come, you froward and unable worms!

In one of the final scenes in Taming of the Shrew, Katherine gives a big speech on how she really loves Petruchio and she wants to stay loyal to him. She explains how she wants to be with him and heckles the other women for not having the same amount of compassion and loyalty towards their husbands. At this point it is unclear if Katherine is being loyal to Petruchio for the money or she genuinely loves him This relates to the scene in The Wedding Singer, where Robbie gives his big song explaining how much he loves Julia and how marriages should be between the people you love.

Just before this scene Billy Idol hypes Robbie up by explaining to him that “You can tell if someone really loves you, if they’re willing to be with you no matter what and it's not about money, fancy cars or anything like that”. Robbie is currently on a plane trying to woo Julia one last time before she flies to vegas and gets married to Glenn. In Robbie’s song he explains how money and a big house doesn’t matter as long as he is with her in which Julia kisses him. This compares to the scene in Taming of the Shrew where the last speech Kathrine gives on being a loyal wife and in response after her big speech Petruchio commands Kathrine to kiss him. This relates to the thesis because it could be said that Katherine is only marrying Petruchio for his money but in the wedding singer, Robbie wants to marry Julia because he has such strong feeling towards her.

Both this movie and book hold many differences and similarities when they’re compared side by side. The main issue in this movie was that Robbie assumed he could never be loved or get married because (like his rival Glenn) he didn’t have a lot of money or a big house. Giving the viewer the idea of “If you're not financially stable, no one will want to marry you” or “It’s easier to get married, if you have a lot of money. While the theme in Taming of the Shrew is the competition of who can woo Bianca the fastest and how Petruchio “tames” Kathrine. At the end of the book even if Kathrine did just marry Petruchio for his money it wouldn’t be as frowned upon as it is today. In the movie when Robbie tells Julia that “She’s just marrying him for the money” she gets upset, the reason for this is because people who usually marry rich people without really loving them are labeled “gold diggers” which refers to someone who is only interested in someone for money. This shows us that society even if its a little bit , thinks its dignified to marry someone for who they are and not there money.

Work cited

Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear The Taming of the Shrew.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 26 Mar. 2018.

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. The Taming of the Shrew. New York :Signet Classic, 1998. Print.

The Wedding Singer, Robert Simonds, Jack Girraputa,

Visual Essay -Mindy Saw

Posted by Mindy Saw in English 3 · Pahomov · A Band on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 7:56 pm

A Manipulation of Love

Comparing “Taming of the Shrew” and “Revenge of the Bridesmaids”

In Shakespeare's “Taming of the Shrew,” the manipulation of love is proved through the character Petruchio. Petruchio manipulates Baptista and others by telling them that he has wooed Katherine and she will be married to him without her actual consent at the time. As manipulation is a common action done to make people “fall in love” back in the days, it also happens in present day as well. In the movie “Revenge of the Bridesmaid,” Caitlyn, the soon-to-be bride manipulates her soon-to-be husband into being pregnant in order for her to marry him.

Although Caitlyn and Petruchio share the same tactics to get what they want, they feel differently about their situations. As for Caitlyn, she’s going through with her plans for the sake of her mother’s bankruptcy in return for getting the perfect wedding that she’s always dreamed of. As for Petruchio, he’s going through with his plans because his goal was to get a wife and that wife was to be Katherine. Even though everyone tells him that she is almost impossible to wife, he claims that he will woo her and she will be the one he marries. It almost becomes a game to him, if he can woo her, he proves his victory in winning the woman that no one wants or can woo. Based off of the play and movie we can see that they are conveying how people manipulate their significant other into love so that they can get what they want from them without having to actually love them.

“What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, good Kate. I am a gentleman --”

“That I’ll try” (she strikes him)

(Act 2, Scene 1, lines 231-233)

At this point of the play, Katherine and Petruchio meets for the first time and Katherine, as expected, does nothing but deny his request and proposal with all her attitude. At this point, the reader can predict that the wedding is not going to happen because Katherine was not being wooed by Petruchio. Though Petruchio does not give up whatsoever. Petruchio continues to try to woo Katherine, but the moment she strikes him, he loses his motivation for a slip second saying “I swear I’ll cuff you if strike again.” In this part of the play, Petruchio is trying to manipulate her into loving him by saying he is a gentleman and he loves her although they just met. Katherine clearly denies him and does not love him.

(Caitlyn pushing Tony’s buttons about the cake.)

(Tony pulling her to the side away from everyone else.)

(Caitlyn nervously looking around.)

In “Revenge of the Bridesmaids,” Caitlyn, the soon-to-be bride and Tony, the soon-to-be groom is cake tasting for their wedding. Caitlyn says to Tony as they taste their third option, “Tony-bear, participate. C’mon we need an opinion from the groom.” Tony then pulls her to the side away from everyone else in the room to respond with, “Look Caitlyn, I’m doing what everybody wants here. It’s just cake.” Looking at Tony’s dialogue, the audience can predict that Tony is not very excited nor cares about the wedding. Caitlyn then nervously looks around and smiles to fake an “everything is okay” and loudly says to everyone, “Yes, you do like milk with your cake. Why don’t you go get some milk.” Tony then walks away with disappointment all over his face mumbling, “I think I will” as Caitlyn nervously continues to smile at everyone else. At this point of the movie, it is clear that Tony has no love for Caitlyn, but he knows he has to marry the woman only because he got her pregnant. Unlike Petruchio’s situation, he’s stuck in a loveless marriage for a mistake he has made. But similar to Petruchio’s tactics, Caitlyn continues to act like everything is fine because she will marry Tony regardless of his actions and the way he feels personally.

"I tell you 'tis incredible to believe How much she loves me. O, the kindest Kate! She hung about my neck, and kiss on kiss She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath, That in a twink she won me to her love. How tame when men and women are alone, A meacock wretch can make the curestest shrew."

(Act 2, Scene 1, lines 325-332)

At this point in “Taming of the Shrew,” Petruchio and Katherine has met for the first time. Although this meeting does not go as Petruchio expected, he claims that all is well and he has done his duty and wooed her into marrying him. During the meeting, Katherine is rude and denies everything Petruchio proposes, but when Petruchio comes back to speak with Katherine’s father Baptista, he says that he was successful in his duty. He manipulates the father by telling him that Katherine is now in love with him and they will be married soon even though she has not given consent, if anything, she has denied his proposal.

(Rachel telling the girls that Caitlyn is pregnant with Tony’s baby.)

In this specific scene Rachel tells Abigail and Parker that Caitlyn is pregnant, “No they have to get married, it’s a secret it’s a big secret, I’m not suppose to tell anyone, Caitlyn’s pregnant” and therefore he has no choice but to marry the her. By the looks of Rachel’s reactions and dialogue, the audience would be able to assume that Caitlyn is pregnant because no one finds out that it’s a lie until later on in the movie. Rachel tells the girls which OBGYN Caitlyn went to to get her results. Similar to what Petruchio does in the play, Caitlyn has already manipulated everyone in believing that she is pregnant with Tony’s baby.

"Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love, What dowry shall I have with her to wife?"

"After my death, the one half of my lands, And in my possession, twenty thousand crowns."

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

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

(Act 2 Scene 1 lines 126-136)

By this scene in the play, Petruchio is conversing with Baptista before his first meeting with Katherine. The reader can tell that some type of deal is going on here for the marriage of Katherine. Baptista approves of Petruchio’s ideas and offers all that he can to Petruchio if he does win Katherine over by wooing her. The idea of manipulation falls into this action because of how Baptista manipulates Petruchio to marry Katherine in order to get his ownings after his passing.

(Caitlyn showing her mom (Mrs. McNabb) that her dress is the wrong color.)

(Caitlyn coming at her mom for promising her the perfect wedding in return of getting all of Tony’s fortunes.)

At this point of the movie, it has finally come to the day of the wedding and everything seems to be going wrong. It starts out with the wedding dress. Caitlyn receives her wedding dress and it’s a different color than what she actually ordered. She cries in distress to her mother, “Look look look at it see?!” Her mother responds, “What? What am I looking at?” Caitlyn then has a mental breakdown saying, “Look blind mother! It’s summer pearl.” Along with that Caitlyn reveals and discusses their deal to the audience, “You promised me! Every detail of this wedding has to be exactly right. I’m only marrying this guy because of all the money you went through. I don’t mind a loveless marriage, but I will not tolerate anything less than a perfect wedding!” In these few lines, Caitlyn reveals the huge secret of why she’s been manipulating people into believing that she is pregnant in order to marry the guy with money only for his money. Unlike Baptista, Mrs. McNabb wants the money and that’s why she wants her daughter to be married, whereas Baptista is paying off Petruchio to marry his daughter with whatever it takes.

The manipulation from both the movie and the play shows how love is portrayed in society’s attitudes towards courtship/dating. Since back then, parents of the individual in the relationship has always been involved in some way. Baptista, the father of Katherine (from the Shrew), proves through his actions of paying Petruchio and manipulating him into wooing his daughter in return to get his fortunes after his death. Whereas in “Revenge of the Bridesmaids,” Mrs. McNabb manipulates her daughter for her to decite others into believing that she is pregnant so that she can marry Tony for his wealth since the McNabbs are going bankrupt. In return of this manipulation, Caitlyn will get her prefect dream wedding. This shows us that in society, people’s attitudes on love and romance is that more wealth equals more happiness in a marriage.