Kate vs Kat the Independent, Feminist Role Model

In the past one hundred years, one of the most important social issues has been the subject of equality. However, this has not always been the case. For centuries, western civilization was a primarily patriarchal society, but in recent years, this issue of equality has permeated all parts of our social world, including literature. Thus we find literary critics placing twenty-first century values on ancient works, hoping to find elements of social equality where, often times, there is none to be found. For example, critics in recent years have attempted to describe William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew as a feminist work; however, it is largely the opposite. Petruccios actions can been seen as patriarchal, enforcing the generally†¦show more content†¦I dont give a damn about my reputation. Never said I wanted to improve my station. Im only doing good when Im having fun and I dont have to please no one. And I dont give a damn about my bad reputation (Bad Reputation). In effect, Kat is a feminist who does not conform to those around her, and ridicules the teenage social life. Kat Stratford is a Seattle high school senior of such surpassing superiority she has outgrown any interest in mere popularity. She says exactly what she thinks and cares not what others, teachers and fellow students alike, think of her in return (Thomas). Kat, in the first classroom scene of the film, exclaims why they cannot read novels of feminists instead of Hemmingways novels, which she terms as chauvinistic. In another scene, Kat the audience sees Kat reading Sylvia Plaths novel The Bell Jar. Kat becomes the feminist ideal, symbolizing intelligence, and independence, qualities her counterpart does not have. As Patrick tames the wild beast, Kat slowly falls in love with Patrick. But when Kat learns of the bet she loses all respect for him. Only in the final classroom scene does Kat profess her love for Patrick in her sonnet 10 Things I Hate About You. Unlike her counterp art, Kate, who is submissive to Petruccio. She accepts what is being done to her and does not fight back. Now not only is Kat seen as a woman with intelligence and independence, but she also has the ability to love; a quality which Kate does not