AP Open Question #1

2008. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of the minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor character serves as a foil to a main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work.

Addyson Miklos

Nichole Wilson

AP Literature and Composition

23 February 2014

            William Shakespeare is a playwright whom frequently utilizes foil characters in his works; often he has multiple foils in his plays. In his comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare has two important foil characters: Bianca and Lucentio. These characters foil with Katherine and Petruchio, essentially foiling one another’s relationship. Shakespeare uses the foil relationship to develop the plot, which is to tame Katherine; and the taming of this shrew proves that an intelligent woman with a strong yet wise voice is much more satisfying as a wife than a completely submissive wife.

            Katherine is first introduced with a shrewish demeanor; she sarcastically asks her father if it was his “will to make a stale of me amongst these mates” (1.1.57-58). This use of sarcasm characterizes Kate as a difficult woman. However, she is only attempting to protect herself from emotional damage through a witty yet sharp voice. This makes Kate an outcast, an unmarriageable woman. Bianca, her younger sister, is introduced as a submissive, quiet woman. The first time she speaks is in reply to her father’s commands, to which she replies “humbly I subscribe” (1.1.82.) All the men recognize her beauty and want Bianca’s submissive hand in marriage; however, she cannot marry anyone until Katherine is married off. The contrasts in Katherine and Bianca create the plotline of the play. The complexity of the play is deepened through Lucentio, who is both in love with Bianca and Petruchio’s foil. Lucentio wants to marry Bianca for the same reasons most other men want to marry Bianca; she is a “young modest girl” (1.1.151). However, Petruchio is only concerned with the dowry of a woman. His need to “wive it wealthily in Padua” (1.2.72) deems him the perfect candidate to be married off to a difficult woman, such as Katherine. In regards to Petruchio’s wit, a difficult woman seems to be a fun challenge for him to tame. This is just as perfect for Lucentio, for his only concern is to love the beautiful, submissive Bianca. The marriage of Petruchio and Kate allows Lucentio to have a chance to marry Bianca, and this plot development could not be achieved without Katherine and Petruchio’s foil characters.

            The taming of Katherine’s behavior may be seen as a need for all women to have suppressed voices, a need for all women to be confined to submission of their husband’s needs. However, the taming that Kate endured was not so. First of all, Petruchio establishes Kate as an equal; for her, he is a “combless cock” (2.1.225), and this allusion to a rooster’s sign of patriarchy and bravado is Petruchio’s way of emasculating himself for her. After they are to be married, Petruchio throws Kate through several hoops in order to tame her. Kate endures even starvation, but she does not let Petruchio win until they are traveling to her father’s house. Kate complies with everything Petruchio says, and even Hortensio agrees that “the field is won” (4.5.24). This does not mean Kate is submissive, however; she simply admires Petruchio’s strong-willed nature. She identifies with him, and their love is a love built out of mutual respect for each other’s intelligence.

            Katherine’s voice is transformed by her newfound marriage to Petruchio; she can now utilize her intelligence to shine through her voice in a way that both men and woman will listen. This is especially evident in her final monologue of the play. However, Kate could not have found her voice if it were not for both her and Petruchio’s foils. Their foils highlighted their strengths and weaknesses as main characters, which allowed for plot development and eventual resolution.