As a reader or an audience, we are unable to get inside Katherine's head and understand how she truly feels. Shakespeare does not give Katherine a chance to express her innermost thoughts and feelings. In addition, she does not appear to have any friends or even a confidante. Therefore, we are never able to understand the real motives behind her behavior. Many of the other characters in the play are given the chance to explain their feelings to the reader or audience, thereby gaining sympathy. .
In contrast to her older sister, Bianca appears to be of a more complacent nature. She is kind and beautiful, soft-spoken, charming, and unpretentious. Because of her beauty and good nature, along with her large dowry, Bianca has many potential suitors. Katherine clearly resents Bianca not only for her many suitors, but also because their father demonstrates a strong partiality towards her. Bianca fits multiple stereotypes, including the woman on a pedestal and the virgin. Her very name means "white- in Italian, indicating she is pure and untouched. She is sought after and prized, looked up to as though she was a statue or idol of beauty. She is considered the model woman, gentle, beautiful, and obedient. In Act 1, Scene 1, Lucentio says to Tranio of Bianca, "But in the other's silence do I see Maid's mild behavior and sobriety."" This indicates that these qualities were valued in that society, and by possessing them, Bianca was considered to be the ideal woman.
However, Bianca is pained with tremendous strife. Although many men are trying to court her, under her father's orders and according to the customs of that time period, she may not marry until her sister is wed. Unfortunately for Bianca, this gives Katherine an enormous power over her. Katherine acts as though marriage is of no importance to her and as if she has no desire to be married. However, she may also be acting this way to torment her sister, who she resents very much.
