28th Annual Student Research Conference
Minola Family Feud: Decoding Family Dynamics in The Taming of the Shrew
Courtney L. Shannon
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
The tale of two sisters, one a paragon of maidenly virtue, the other as mercurial as they come, is a well known literary trope of the modern world. No sisters exhibit these differences better than Katherine and Bianca Minola. However, obscured to us are the reasons they are so antithetical. In this essay, I will explore the upbringing of a female in 16th and 17th century Europe. I will also apply classic cognitive development in children to the sisters, focusing on Vygotskian approaches, which state that "[a]ll the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals." (Vygotsky 57), including culture, environment, and social interaction. The effects of being raised by a single parent will also be considered, as well as Alfred Adlers birth order theories. Through these applications I will work toward an understanding of the tensions between the Minola sisters and their father in The Taming of the Shrew.
Keywords: Minola, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare, Vygotsky, cognitive development, upbringing
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 401-2
Location: MG 1000
Time: 2:45