Sexism in Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

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

Throughout the Elizabethan era, men had more advantages than women. William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew has characters such as Petruchio, Baptista, Katherine, and Bianca that show how men overpowered women. During the Elizabethan era, there was heavy sexism. Women were discriminated. Through Shakespeare’s language, men could speak to and about women in a disrespectful and derogatory manner. Women were voiceless and deprived of their right to speak. Women were inferior to men. During the Elizabethan era, through Shakespeare’s language, and in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, it is proven that men had more advantages than women.

Gender Politics encapsulates the hierarchy that separates men and women on an imaginary ladder based off of class or social status. In ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and ‘10 Things I Hate About You’, men are portrayed as superior to women. Whereas women on the other hand are portrayed as subservient servants, and in many cases, more like objects than people. An example of Gender Politics clearly evident in the play, The Taming of the Shrew is when Katherine is bargained for by Baptista, without her consent nor say. This can be shown during Act II, Scene I when Baptista is convincing Petruchio to “woo” Katherine over along with a bribe.

Shakespeare’s, The Taming of A Shrew, displays many ideas that would be considered sexist by anyone reading it today. The whole idea of the story is a young man trying to ‘tame’ his young wife into doing everything that he wants her to. He expects her to meet all of his needed desires and agree with anything that he says or does. During Shakespeare’s time this was very common for women to be treated more like a servant rather than an actual wife or daughter. Today, of course, people (especially women) would not comply with the idea of men being the boss of everything and woman dutifully following their

The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare is an introduction in the everpresent battle of women to be loving and caring wives, while at the same time holding on to our independence. Its plot is derived from the popular 'war of the sexes' theme in which males and females are pitted against one another for dominance in marriage. The play begins with an induction in which a drunkard, Christopher Sly, is fooled into believing he is a king and has a play performed for him. The play he watches is what constitutes the main body of The Taming OfThe Shrew.

In Act II, scene I, two marriage proposals occur that are economic. The […] emotional connect between the women and their love interest contracts made by their father” (Women and Power par.1). Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, comes searching for his fortune. His friend Hortensio tells him that he knows the right woman, but the obstacle is that she is the worst shrew. However, Petruchio does not care. He is sure that he can handle the situation, as long as she has a large dowry. Petruchio’s […] attraction for Kate and Baptista’s requirement that he woo his daughter change the nature of their relationship from a business proposal to one of attraction and, possibly, affection the relationship” (Women and Power par.1). Similarly, Baptista asserts that whoever can "assure my daughter greatest dowery / Shall have my Bianca’s love” (2.1.364-365). The oddly possessive “my Bianca’s love” highlights the patriarchal

The dehumanization of women should not be shown in a play because it is against the common morals of today’s society. In The Taming of the Shrew, the objectification of women is shown

Shakespeare’s famous literary work, The Taming of the Shrew, written in the late 1500s (clearly written before the twentieth century) is a great example of a piece of literature that when read by a contemporary reader from the twenty-first century might view as sexist. Due to the fact that this piece of literature was

In Shakespeare’s comedy, “The Taming of the Shrew”, the author depicts the subjection of a willful woman to the will of her husband. 2 The female protagonist in the play, Kate, has a shrill tongue, a hot temper and irrational attitude giving her the reputation of a “shrew”. The first way Shakespeare portrays marriage in this play is by showing the female subject to being married as the victim who is passed from her father to the suoiter of her father’s choosing. In “The Taming of the Shrew”, Kate is seen as an object in her courting and marriage to Petruchio .

In Act 2, Scene 1, line 115, Petruchio questions Baptista: “Then tell me, - If I get your daughter’s love, what dowry shall I have with her to wife?”. Although the form of women suggested a possession was standard Elizabethan form, the ironic idea of Petruchio suggesting he loves her isn’t overlooked. The juxtaposition between the belief system in modern and Elizabethan societies is ironic, this creates the modern reader to see this as a sexist act. Money is presented to the responder as a symbol of reward, “what dowry should I have with her to wife” the representation of dowry is a symbol of wealth and an empowering motive of the individual, he is only expressing his gestures of love to get the reward of the money. Comparisingly exploring how money and marriage where explored in the Elizabethan era.

Gender roles are undeniably a fundamental topic of critique in literature, particularly since expected gender roles have evolved in recent years. More importantly, the transcendence of these gender expectations indicates the possibility for transformation and increasing liberation in society. History explores many different stages for the sexes and their respective roles, from traditional anti-feminist times in which certain roles were strictly enforced, to more modern beliefs entailing free will and a lack of restrictions. In spite of this progress, there are always those who expedite the process while there are others that hinder development from occurring, even when it is necessary. Literary works in particular serve as a showcase

In the Elizabethan era, Petruchio’s actions may have been somewhat appropriate but in today’s society, such treatment is disapproved of. Petruchio puts Katherina through constant abuse such as starvation and sleep deprivation. These actions could easily lead to years of jail time today. Women nowadays are treated with much more respect and are allowed to live independently and can have a say in things. In William Shakespeare’s “The taming of the shrew”

“How would a modern audience view this play in a different way to an audience in Shakespeare’s time, particularly in relation to the role and status of women and attitudes to marriage and courtship?

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

Battle of the Sexes would have been another appropriate title for this play because the entire play is women verses men, men verses women. This battle of the sexes shows no boundaries between the rich and poor, young or old, man or women. The basis of all the rivalry stems from the fact that the men in this play look at the women as if they were objects, instead of human beings with feelings. This theory that women are merely objects creates an environment that the women have to adapt to and survive in and the environment of a person will depict what he or she will become, resulting in a battle between the sexes.