The overall arc of Kate's character can be described as:

• A. Initially compliant, ends defiant.
• B. Initially independent, ends obedient.
• C. Initially strong-willed, ends obedient to husband.
• D. Initially uninterested, ends uninterested.

Answer: (C)

Kate opens with a sharp, independent streak and a willingness to push back against authority. Her wit and defiance about marriage set up a contrast with the pressure she faces from Petruchio’s attempts to “tame” her. As the drama unfolds, she moves into a role that is more compliant to her husband's will, culminating in the famous moment where she endorses obedience for wives. That clear shift from strong-willed to obedient is why this description best captures her overall arc. The other possibilities don’t fit the progression: she isn’t truly compliant at the start, nor does she end in outright defiance or continued disinterest.