In the “Induction,” — the opening section of The Taming of the Shrew — Christophero Sly, a drunken beggar, is asleep in the gutter when a Lord decides to play a trick on him and make him believe that his whole life has been no more than a delusion, a long hallucination. The Lord and his servants conspire to convince Sly that he is a great Lord himself, with a beautiful wife, a rich household, and many servants.
At first, Sly wonders whether he has gone mad, but then he begins to accept what the people around him are telling him. He is rather quickly persuaded that the life he thought he had led was a delusion, and that he is in fact the great man that those around him now claim to perceive when they look at him.
In “From Founders to Decorators, Facebook Riches” (February 1, 2012), New York Times reporters Nick Bilton and Evelyn M. Rusli describe the case of David Choe, a graffiti artist who painted the walls of Facebook’s first corporate headquarters and was paid for his services in stock rather than cash. After Facebook goes public later this year, Choe’s stock is expected to be worth more than $200 million. What effect will this have on Choe’s life? Will he, like Christophero Sly, begin to feel that the world of financial constraint he lived in prior to acquiring that fortune was a dream, a long delusion from which the money awoke him? Will his circumstances be so different, and will those around him treat him so differently, that he begins to wonder who he is, and whether he is losing his grip on himself?
Here’s his personal website: http://davidchoe.com What do you think?
The larger question brought up by both of these stories is: are we the person we feel ourselves to be within ourselves, regardless of our external circumstances? Or is it our external circumstances and how other people see us that dictate who we are?
Yes.
Of course, that answer does not fit into the question, however, that’s what first came into my mind, so yes.
It is said that there are actually three versions of you. One that you think, or how you see yourself, one that others think, or what is the perception that others have of you, and the third one which is probably the truest one, which is who you really are, despite what your opinion and others’ opinions are about who you are.
Some say people are products of their environments, the fruits of both their ancestry, and the unique experiences that help shape their characters and personality.
People often see themselves in this magical and especial way, like they are unique and poorly placed in the wrong circumstance, body or time… and they have a hard time seeing themselves for who they really are. On the other hand, others have limited knowledge and perspectives to form opinions, and that’s usually why the way people see you is also usually limited and prejudiced.
The hard thing is to be who you really are, accept who you are for what you are, and try to use that information to access situations for your own improvement and try to evolve from any unsatisfactory findings you may come to, when you “see yourself in the mirror”.
In my opinion, each one of us is indeed especial and unique. It is up to us to find that out. Now, with regards to money, having fortune does not really make or break someone, for the material is temporary and so is being broke. Poverty, on the other hand, that is a state of mind.
Bianca is to Blank as Romney is to adaptable. When Romney decided to run for president, I doubt he had any (idea) that one small literature classroom would have (cause, reason) to compare him and his campaign with one of Shakespeare’s, plays let alone “The Taming of the Shrew.” Undoubtedly the similarities between Romney as a presidential candidate and his campaign as a whole can be compared to the play from multiple different angles: Bianca’s attitude towards her marriage and courtship is (similar) to Romney’s towards his campaign being as neither one of them have a strong stand or opinion on any one matter…also, Romney’s campaign is much like a courtship and in the same way Romney is having difficulty winning over a majority of republican voters, Petruchio is facing resistance with Katherine.
Bianca’s debut in the play was enough to sum up her character. She stands my meekly as her father discusses her future and marriage, she readily agrees to comply to whatever he wishes for her to do by saying “…Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe”. My books and instruments shall be my company, on them to look and practice by myself.”(Act1 Scene 1 Lines 82-84) The young lady never once says how she truly feels about her father’s dictatorial method in choosing how and who she would become betrothed to in other words, she aims to please …much in the same way that Romney aims to please Republican voters by aiming to be the most ‘republican’, republican candidate. Katherine on the other hand is much more fired up about her fate and makes sure her father is aware of this by voicing her thoughts. “I pray you sire, is it your will, To Make a stale of me amongst these mates?(Act1Scene1 lines 58-59). Being as this is the first line Katherine says in the play, the audience is immediately aware of what a spitfire she is…she leaves a lasting impression with her fiery personality. With Bianca on the other hand, besides her beauty, has no other memorable trait. According to the news paper article, “The opening batch of primaries and caucuses have also shown Mr. Romney’s limitations as a candidate. It has raised questions about his consistency and highlighted his tendency to say things that get him in trouble.” (Romney Faces Rebels on the Right and Softness in the Middle) Mr. Romney has a tendency to get in trouble because he says one thing to please a group of people one day then says something else to please another group. The average American would describe Romney as the rich no-decisive candidate, just as any off Bianca’s suitors would describe her as beautiful and obliging. In both their cases, you can shape them to be whatever you want them to be being as they chose to not take strong dedicated non-wavering stand on anything. Their personalities allow anyone to fill in the blank.
Presidential campaign is to courtship as inauguration is to marriage and impeachment is to divorce. In much the same way that sisters Katherine and Bianca are being courted by their suitors in hopes of obtaining the lady’s hand in marriage, the American public is currently being courted by Romney in hopes that he will be elected as president. Just as Romney faces challenge with the voters, Lucentio and Hortensio face difficulty with getting access to Bianca and in addition, Petruchio faces a battle getting Katherine to become smitten with him. Just as people have different reasons for pursuing marriage and will marry for different reasons, voters also chose who to support using different logic. “There are those who vote with their heart and those who vote with their head” (Romney…middle). Hortensio and Lucentio both seek marriage with their heart, Petruchio with his head, Katherine would rather not get married at all and Bianca…well no one knows exactly what she wants. Act 2 Scene 1, Lines 190 to 293 clearly demonstrate the cat and mouse game between Katherine and Pertruchio however he does not get discouraged because even before he met her, he said to himself “…Say that she frown, I’ll say she looks as clear as morning roses newly washed with dew. Say she be mute and will not speak a word, then I’ll commend her volubility.” (Act2 Scene1 Lines80-83). Before he met Katherine, Petruchio is using his head to think and make sure he approaches her in a way that will make him appear irresistible, just as Romney wants voters to find him to be the clear obvious choice for a candidate. However, he underestimated her spirit by saying “Nay, come, Kate, come. You must not look so sour (Act2 Scene2 Line42). To which she replies “It is my fashion when I see a crab”. Gaining affection, just like a presidential vote, is not an easy feat. Also, it is often said that when you first start dating someone, the version of themselves they present to you is their representative and only after marriage will their true self emerge. Romney seems to be attempting to sweet talk republicans into electing him by appearing to be the perfect republican.
In summary, the obvious similarity between Bianca and Romney is the fact that they are docile and seem eager to please, Bianca with her father and Romney with the voters. Much like Bianca, Romney never takes a strong stand on any one issue. They broader connection is that comparing an election with a marriage and yet, it is the more mind stimulating comparison…and let’s not forget, just as one can divorce a spouse, a president can be impeached.