Clever Language andPlot Developement in Taming of the Shrew.

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Use of Clever Language to Develop the Plot of the Play “Taming the Shrew”
Shakespeare in the play employs fast-paced and witty dialogues between different characters. The play is characterized by the use of banter such as clever punning, the play of words, and numerous instances of bawdy humor. In the play, the theme of language is synonymous with power struggles and shifts. However, it is the use of witty arguments used to create comic relief that drives the events in the play. Essentially, the use of clever language helps a reader to remain attentive to the drama’s suspense regarding the techniques Petruchio will employ to win over Katharina. Indeed, the use of witty language in the play by Shakespeare is instrumental in the development of the plot in the play “Taming of the Shrew.”
Shakespeare uses witty language packaged as a family drama. In the play, Katharina has not found a suitable suitor, but also no man is brave enough to woo her. Bianca, Katharina’s younger sister, cannot get married before her elder sister does (Gale 3). Noticeably, this places a strain in their family relationship. For instance, “Katharina: A pretty peat! It is best-put finger in the eyean she knew why. Bianca: Sister, content you in my discontent. Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe…” (Shakespeare Act I scene I). The use of witty language in this example triggers the plot of the play as the bad blood between the two sisters gives Petruchio an opportunity to date Katharina.

Petruchio after marrying Katharina he has to put up with her witty but often vulgar and coded language. To contain her witty coded language, he equally delivers shrewd phrases while debating with her (Ripa 22). For example, “Petruchio: What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman. Katharina: That I’ll try. (She strikes him) Petruchio: I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again. Katharina: So, may you lose your arms: If you strike me, you are no gentleman; and if no gentleman, why then no arms. Petruchio: A herald, Kate? O, put me in thy books! Katharina: What is your crest? A coxcomb? (Shakespeare Act 2 Scene 1).” In this excerpt, it is clear that the two lovebirds in the rest of the story engage in arguments but using witty language.
Indeed, the use of witty language is instrumental in developing the plot of the play. Besides, the comic devices make the play enjoyable to the reader. The family drama founded on witty language is used to introduce unexpected plot twists.

Works Cited
Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for William Shakespeare’s” The Taming of the Shrew.” Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016.
Ripa, Elisabeth Salonen. Who Is the Shrew? 1st ed., Dalarna University, 2011, pp. 4-28, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:519232/FULLTEXT01.pdf. Accessed 9 Oct 2018.
Shakespeare, William, Gwynne Blakemore Evans, and John Joseph Michael Tobin. The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.