After a separation of several centuries, attitudes between the sexes have changed either significantly or rather little in either direction depending on where one resides. In Shakespeare’s time, women were considered little more than property to be exchanged between her father and her possible husband to be. Those women who wish to escape such burdens had little other options. All they had was other disinheritance or the convent. Katherine Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew tried to fight such emotion oppression on her own terms the best way she knew how, by being so feisty and untampered that many men chose to run away from here. It would take another man willing to be paid to attempt to win her so that another can marry her sister …show more content…
To him, it was a means to an end. Money was all that mattered to him. That may have changed at the end of the play but it is hard not to consider that putting Katherine through such tactics to “tame her” was not as burdensome for him considering what he would have to gain later. This passage makes us believe that love is secondary to his goals in finding marriage and when Lucentio finds him and arranges an offer, it is too tempting to refuse despite the challenges that face him with Katherine. Perhaps we see this violent and brutal streak in Petruchio before Katherine and he even meet, as the play begins with Petruchio striking his servant Grumio and with Grumio warning everyone what was to come: I pray you, sir, let him go while the humour lasts. O ' my word, an she knew him as well as I do, she would think scolding would do little good upon him: she may perhaps call him half a score knaves or so: why, that 's nothing; an he begin once, he 'll rail in his rope-tricks. I 'll tell you what sir, an she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face and so disfigure her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat. You know him not, sir. (I.ii.106-114) While he does not strike Katherine physical as he does with Grumio, it still implies if it came to that (which it almost does), he would not have any issues with doing so. He may not have needed to resort to physical
The Taming of the Shrew examines the way traditional 16th century notions about gender and its hierarchy are tested and reinforced in tempestuous relationships. While patriarchy rules supreme at the plays end, it’s vital to consider the constant attempts to undermine the sexist assumptions about a women’s place in marriage. In The Taming of the Shrew gender plays a
The Taming of the Shrew, written by William Shakespeare, is historical proof that flirting and temptation, relating to the opposite sex, has been around since the earliest of times. Because males and females continue to interact, the complications in this play remain as relevant and humorous today as they did to Elizabethan audiences. This is a very fun play, full of comedy and sexual remarks. It's lasting impression imprints itself into the minds of its readers, for it is an unforgettable story of sex, flirting, and happiness. The Taming of the Shrew remains as relevant today because of its relation to the age-old story of the battle of the sexes and dynamics of marriage, as well as the woman's struggle with both of these.
The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, and has weathered well into our modern era. For all the praises it has garnered throughout the centuries, it is curious to note that many have considered it to be one of his most controversial in his treatment of women. The "taming" of Katherine has been contended as being excessively cruel by many writers and critics of the modern era. George Bernard Shaw himself pressed for its banning during the 19th century. The subservience of Katherine has been labeled as barbaric, antiquated, and generally demeaning. The play centers on her and her lack of suitors. It establishes in the first act her shrewish demeanor and its repercussions on her family. It is only with the introduction of the witty Petruchio as her suitor, that one begins to see an evolution in her character. Through an elaborate charade of humiliating behavior, Petruchio humbles her and by the end
Sexism is the stereotyping and discrimination based upon gender. Typically steered towards women, it has played a large part in not only our society today but in the past as well. In the play The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, it is shown in the treatment of the women by their male counterparts. It is most prevalent in the way that fortune-seeking Petruchio goes about taming his aggressive and sharp-tongued wife Katharina. By examining Petruchio’s actions and Katharina’s reactions towards his efforts at taming her, once can see that the play is indeed sexist.
Katherine continues to tell them that any women who does not obey and follow their husbands then they are 'foul contending rebels'. Katherine’s speech is full of love and respect for Petruchio. Right from the moment she met Petruchio, it is unmistakable that she was intrigued by him, it could even have been love at first sight. They are very similar characters and they express their emotions by arguing and insulting each other but deep down they are in love. There are two explanations for Katherine’s final speech. One explanation is that Kate could be filled with so much love and affection for Petruchio that she will withstand his harsh treatments and cruel tests just to be with him. Another explanation is that Kate has admitted defeat by Petruchio and that she respects him and understands that he is now master. Kate always wanted to be married and at last she has, she is no longer the controller but has a strong husband to look after her and keep her in a her place. Finally the shrew has been tamed and at last she is married, and so it is a happy ending for
She explains to the women that they must do the same. Shakespeare uses these lines as a demonstration of how women are strong by Katherine offering to protect her husband’s feet. This also demonstrates how women are treated in Shakespeare’s
She states that a woman owes her loyalty to her man just as a subject owes his loyalty to a king, declaring that when "[a wife] is froward, peevish, sullen, sour / And not obedient to his honest will," she lacks grace and thus betrays her husband and their image (V, ii, 166-169). Previously, as an independent woman, Katherine despised her sister Bianca for being too obedient and completely dominated by her father and other men. However, this was before she married Petruchio and was transformed into a compliant, devoted wife. Katherine's conviction towards her belief that a woman should be absolutely loyal to her husband shows that she has been completely tamed and is no longer the shrew that others once thought her to be. Katherine goes on to express her shame that women are "so simple" and cannot understand that they must be obedient. Her disapproving tone and deprecating attitude towards the other women in the room also profess her love for Petruchio, who is evidently pleased with her speech, and with whom Katherine later shares a kiss. From this, it is clear that she has really become tamed and is now a loving
Elizabethan society was created on the belief the woman had no right or control over their own lives. Women had no choice in what their profession would be, as a matter of fact they weren’t allowed to have a profession such as medicine, politics and law. The only places they were allowed to work were in domestic areas. This essay will be focusing on the taming of the shrew with the role of status of women and attitudes towards marriage and courtship during the Elizabethan era. In Elizabethan society, all that women were considered of was the lower end of men and the weaker gender.
Teaching the works of William Shakespeare is relevant and necessary. Perhaps the relevance of his writing is taken for granted, perhaps it is necessary to re- examine the role of Shakespeare for the modern audience. The most controversial play ’Taming of the Shrew’ performed between 1590 and 1592 by William Shakespeare brings to our attention the gender bias and gender expectations portrayed by women. The key message of Shakespeare’s ‘’ the Taming of the shrew’’ is also about favouritism in which Katherina feels neglected as her dad gives more attention to his younger daughter Bianca. This leads to Katherina's shrewish behaviour.
In Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare has a woman as one of the story's main characters. Katherine Minola (Kate) is off the wall, and kinda crazy. Because of her actions, the “male centered world” around her doesn't know what to do with her.
One of the most notorious topics of interest in the works of Shakespeare is the role women receive in his plays. The way Shakespeare wrote his plays, women were very submissive to men and had no will and choice of their own. Women were extremely reliant upon the men in their lives, believing that they were inferior and thus following their desire for the women’s lives. This included that marriages were usually arranged by a powerful male, instead of giving the woman the opportunity of choosing marriage for love. It is not surprising that Shakespeare portrayed women in a way that was familiar to him and the time era in which he lived. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew, both focus on the development of love and not, with
Love is one of the most powerful things in this world. People will go to great lengths to achieve another’s love. From youth we have been showered with tales of true love’s kiss and of Prince Charming breaking the Evil Queen’s curse. Time and again, we are made to see the power of love. In the play, “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare, the renowned playwright takes love deeper than just passion. Shakespeare goes under the surface of love, all the way to its core. The story truly begins as Baptista Minola’s two daughters are readied for marriage: Bianca the sweet and innocent; Katherina the shrewd and curst. Men gravitate towards beautiful Bianca and flee when Katherina appears. Hortensio, a good friend of the main protagonist, Petruchio, wants to marry Bianca, in order for that to happen, Hortensio must get Petruchio to marry Katherina. Yet, Petruchio knows what he is getting himself into and he wisely sees past Katherina’s prickly outer shell. He proves that the Katherina isn’t what everyone in Padua thinks she is. Petruchio exposes the superficial problems in his society and demonstrates that respect and love are one and the same. Furthermore, Petruchio’s determination and heart allows him to woo the girl, marry her and activate the Taming of the Shrew.
The role of woman in the society has always been really controversial, whether it was 400 years ago or now. Shakespeare's two very famous comedy plays, The Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice challenge a very serious social issue, the role and importance of woman in society. We all know the stereotypical image of woman in the society but Shakespeare questions the society on these thoughts through his plays. While Shakespeare expresses his ideas in a very unique way in each of his plays, this issue is common in both plays and is portrayed very similarly. Whether it is the way woman are treated, portrayed or judged, Shakespeare repeats the same idea through difference acts and events between the two comedies. There are some
“The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare centers around the desire to tame a shrewish woman, Kate, for the good of others, her sister Bianca, and her father Baptista, it is a play that focuses on the theme of the “battle of the sexes.” Bianca and Kate's roles and development throughout the play help propel the plot forwards as one is tamed for the sake of the other, the other ends up switching roles and being the disobedient one by the end. Bianca is the more modest sister and thus more preferred by her father and sought out by suitors. “The one as famous for a scolding tongue/ As is the other for beauteous modesty.” (1.2. 244-245)
In The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare reveals the flaws in gender and class roles by pointing out the flaws in when women always listen to men. For everyone that has strict parents or been in a relationship you understand these examples, the man(dad) is the boss, the women obey the man, and class roles are determined by society. Shakespeare challenges through many situations, the class and gender roles that are determined by society.