ipl-logo

Shakespeare's Portrayal Of Women In The Taming Of The Shrew

962 Words4 Pages

The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s first plays. Written during the Elizabethan era, it was a time in England when women weren’t treated equally to men but as lesser beings. In the Taming of the Shrew, one of the characters is sweet, talented, the perfect Elizabethan woman Bianca Katherine, her sister defies social norms, notably by being curst to men, and initially being against marriage, causing her to be considered a “devil” and constantly criticized. Compared to the era, Kate presents a unique set of views which quickly changes when she meets Petruchio, the man who becomes her husband. Through the expectations expressed by the men and actions of Petruchio and Kate presented in the play, Shakespeare expresses ideas that convey …show more content…

Shakespeare expresses how men valued women based on how obedient they were through Petruchio and Kate, suggesting that he too thought the same. In the Homily of the State of Matrimony, it is stated that “‘ You wives, be you in subjection to obey your own husband.’” By using the word “obey” rather than a word like “follow” it conveys that women have to submit to their husbands. “Obey” is often used in cases when a person is forced to do something against their will. While “follow” is utilized in situations when a person willing does an action for another. During this era men took pride in controlling women, this pride was shown through Petruchio and the other husbands. Without their wives knowing they made a bet of whose wife would win the challenge with money on the line, but Kate is the only one who shows up. Upon Kate coming Petruchio boasts, “...I will win my wager better yet and show more sign of her obedience, her new-built virtue and obedience.” (5.2.116-118) “Show more sign of her obedience,” makes is appear that Petruchio is showcasing Kate as the most obedient among all the wives. Some may disagree and claim that Kate’s actions are an act of loyalty and that she isn’t just being obedient but trusts Petruchio’s intentions since she didn’t question his request. However, instead of trust, it is fear that is fueling her obedience since she doesn’t want to be starved again

Show More
Related

  • Petruchio In A Taming Of The Shrew

    1124 Words  | 5 Pages

    A Taming Of The Shrew, an interesting title that portrays the storyline that involves Katerina and Petruchio mainly. Their love story is not so straight forward, there 's certain sides that portray separate feelings and the play depicts how Katerina takes on her newly wedded man. understanding their tangled mess Shakespeare wrote, people of all different academic levels try and understand the hidden meanings, although there will never be a final conclusion to what he portrayed. Consequently, the side most students and professors side with is Katerina finally broke her mindset that she is the queen of all queens, that she is on top and no one can back her down, until she met her match Petruchio. As most people side with, Katerina met her match,

    Read More

  • Katherine's Manipulation In Taming Of The Shrew

    727 Words  | 3 Pages

    Consequently, for the duration of the play The Taming of The Shrew Katherine’s behavior is attributing the struggles of being a victim of reoccurring problems due to manipulation from Petruchio, and Bianca. Furthermore, the characters Bianca and Petruchio are not only victims of their own problems, but also is Katherine who is facing problems as well and her approach to the manipulation is allowing herself to remain easily influenced by her father, plus manipulated by Petruchio and Bianca. Also the possibility of a mental illness hinders her towards being obedient when women shouldn’t be compliant to their husbands, and the struggle of a hindering bipolar disorder is limiting her state of mind. Katherine from the play The Taming of The Shrew

    Read More

  • The Portrayal Of Women In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    48 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare depicts the role of women, through the ladies of the Capulet household and their suppressed role compared to that of a man which consequently, results in the women being slandered, objectified and being forced to comply with decisions they don’t

    Read More

  • How Does Petruchio Change In The Taming Of The Shrew

    1199 Words  | 5 Pages

    The father is trying to marry off his daughters, and one of them, Katherine, is considered a shrew by the people in the Padua, Italy. His other daughter, Bianca, is the younger sister, and the people of Padua, see her as sweet and kind, and many people such as Lucentio, Hortensio, and Gremio want to marry her, but her father does not allow her to marry until Katherine gets married. Lucentio then comes up with an idea and tries to convince his friend Petruchio to marry Katherine. Petruchio agrees because he is out money and he needs to a marry a rich woman. Later, Petruchio marries Katherine, and she changes the way she acts at the end of the play.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Taming Of The Shrew

    1136 Words  | 5 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s Comedy, Taming of the Shrew is a play that takes place in Padua where Lucentio, a student Begins chasing a girl he is interested in, Bianca. As Bianca already has two suitors, who neither seem to catch her interest, a couple men on Lucentio’s ‘team’ start to develop a plan to be able to woo Katherina, the older sister, so then lucentio can gain the rights to Bianca. After this all works out, Petruchio is going to embarrass Kate, and quickly teach her that he is in charge. Petruchio and his servants deny her food and sleep. Kate is treated horribly, until she eventually obeys him.

    Read More

  • Taming Of The Shrew Sexism Analysis

    815 Words  | 4 Pages

    From Sexism to Social Reformation Many actions and ideologies of the characters in The Taming of the Shrew create an overarching conflict between comedy and sexism for most readers. Specifically, the relationships between the men and women introduce controversial topics such as obedience and love which must be questioned thoroughly. The conditions of Petruchio and Katherine’s marriage was more “traditional” in the sense that it was primarily patriarchal, and that Kate was expected to be subservient and obedient. While this is sexist, on the surface, this was not the intended meaning behind the works.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Petruchio In Taming Of The Shrew

    137 Words  | 1 Pages

    When two emulative fighters clash due to love, who will win in their fanatical brawls? Such a question is hilariously explored by William Shakespeare’s brilliant farce The Taming of the Shrew. In this play, the quick-minded yet quarrelsome Katherine Minola encounters Petruchio, a seemingly drunken fool with equal wits. When he wishes to marry the defiant Kate, the two comically clash and dispute. Ultimately, Petruchio comes on top, seemingly winning Kate’s heart and changing her ill-tempered ways.

    Read More

  • Taming Of The Shrew Persuasive Essay

    433 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" is a play that depicts the story of Petruchio attempt to tame Katherine, the stubborn and feisty daughter of a wealthy lord. In the play, Petruchio uses three different methods to tame Katherine: starvation, sleep deprivation, and testing her. These methods he used to break Katherine's will and bend her to Petruchio's wishes. Through these methods, Petruchio transforms Katherine from a shrewish woman to a submissive and obedient wife.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Deception In Taming Of The Shrew

    1215 Words  | 5 Pages

    Taming of the Shrew is a dramatic comedy in which several suitors try to captivate and marry a beautiful woman named Bianca. However, the suitors stumble upon an issue; Bianca’s older sister, Kate, is not married. Bianca is only eligible for marriage if Kate is married, so the suitors set out to find Kate a man. During Taming of the Shrew, the suitors of both Kate and Bianca are dishonest and deceive the sisters using disguises and mind games which results in a breakdown of all the characters.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Shakespeare's Taming Of The Shr

    465 Words  | 2 Pages

    You abide by their will, do what they want, speak when they want you to, and are basically there to just look beautiful and agree with your man. This shows, how women are not only oppressed and have an ideal image to live up too, but that some women are willing to accept these expectations, like Kate, who was once considered a “shrew” but is now the perfect wife. In retrospect, gender roles affect the characters negatively, because Kate ends up being the only woman who will obey because if she doesn’t she has to suffer. The Widow and Bianca however, believe the expectations they should follow are stupid which is why they don’t listen in the bet.

    Read More

  • Petruchio's Motivation In The Taming Of The Shrew

    386 Words  | 2 Pages

    Through his incentive, he is very determined to marry Kate even though she comes with money, marriage, and a malicious attitude. In addition, Petruchio does not care if his wife is a shrew or foul, he just asks "...if thou know one rich enough to be Petruchio's wife" (1.2.68). Not to mention, after Hortensio tells him of Kate, Petruchio only says to "...tell [him] her father's name, and tis enough" (1.2.95). Petruchio understands that Kate has a "...scolding tongue" (1.2.101) even though Hortensio warms him. Due to his incentive to cure Kate of her shrew-ish ways and to get Baptista's money.

    Read More

  • Sexism In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1832 Words  | 8 Pages

    Their behavior also includes who they sleep with, which is nobody’s business in today’s day and age but back in the 1500s, women were looked down upon for having sex out of marriage and considered “whores’ (Picard 172). This describes how men had their grip on women even when it came to certain personal issues or acts. Another story where Shakespeare demonstrates male power is in The Taming of the Shrew. Cawley says, “Demonstrating that he views women as fundamentally inferior by noting that they are born to bear, Petruchio concludes their conversation with the assertion that he is born to tame and must have her as his wife” (Crawley). Shakespeare writes about women in the sense of being in the Renaissance Era in which

    Read More

  • Petruchio's Deception In Taming Of The Shrew

    809 Words  | 4 Pages

    Petruchio and Katherine are two characters in Shakespeare ’s play “Taming of the Shrew”. Petruchio was a single man with money running out looking for a rich wife. There was a situation between Katherine and her sister Bianca. Bianca couldn’t get married until Katherine did.

    Read More

  • Essay On Taming Of The Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing

    4057 Words  | 17 Pages

    Introduction In his plays The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It, Shakespeare gives the leading female characters similar roles, yet is able to develop the relationships between them in different ways. Katherina from The Taming of the Shrew, Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing and Rosalind from As You Like It, all of whom are either the older sister or cousin, are given strong, dominating characters whilst Bianca, Hero and Celia, in the respective order of plays, are given a sincere, polite and more disciplined attitude in comparison to their sister or cousin. Despite completely opposite attitudes and behaviors of the female characters, Beatrice and Hero from Much Ado About Nothing and Rosalind and Celia from As

    Read More

  • Taming Of The Shrew Social Class Analysis

    796 Words  | 4 Pages

    The three social classes during the time of the Renaissance were comprised of people who lived very different lives. The wealthy class were the people with most control. Men would be abusive towards their servants, and wives, however the only reason they would act this way, was because they wanted to give off the appearance that they were the ones with the money, the power, and no one was allowed to tell them otherwise. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare revolves around the wealthy, such as Petruchio, Petruchio was abusive towards his servants, and his wife Katherine, he also made it his priority to find a way to “tame” his wife, thus having control. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare celebrates male dominance in marital and social hierarchies and encourages abusive behaviors towards people of a low status.

    Read More

More about Shakespeare's Portrayal Of Women In The Taming Of The Shrew

Open Document