Taming Of The Shrew Play Analysis

Katherine the main character, is labeled as a shrew by the whole town for the fact that she would rather speak her mind then be put down by others. Grade A comedy. If the roles were to be reversed and Katherine was the one to tame Petruchio this would no longer be a comedy of this era but a controversial portrayal of women being superior to men in a way. * Gasps*

Lawrence’s bitter and mocking tone questions the popularity and admiration Hester Prynne receives. Lawrence believes that Hester does not deserve the esteem she acquires because of her adultery. Instead, he thinks her character should be lambasted for the unrighteous crime she commits. His resentful tone expresses this belief by insulting women as a way of mocking Hester. For instance, Lawrence comments “the greatest triumph a woman can have, especially an American woman, is the triumph of seducing a man, especially if he is pure,” (Lawrence).

Hamlet does not value Ophelia 's feelings he belittles her. In Hamlets defense this is the way he was brought up to treat women, during that time this was a common way to treat a women. Even though in today 's society it is not at all ok to treat women with such disrespect. He also likes for everything to go as planned and this may result in why he can not have a stable relationship with a woman. This also causes him to have many stumbling blocks in his life that causes some emotional pain

In the play, the females are commonly referred to as untrustworthy objects, things that are put on the shelf when men become bored of them. In the beginning of the play, Claudio asks Benedick on his personal opinion of Hero, the conversation very quickly turns to the act of buying her and whether she is worthy of Claudio’s hand in marriage. Benedick valued Hero’s beauty and obedience so highly that she was deemed worthy. The fact that men objectify the women makes it clear that the men believe the women have no real voice in any matter; women’s only purpose in life was the serve the man, they are there for the taking and meant to be submissive. This author believes that men in the Elizabethan era viewed women as untrustworthy and unfaithful by nature due to the frequent joking of cheating and cuckolding.

Often times unfair expectations are placed upon people who have a hard time conforming to society. In the novel Catherine Earnshaw must choose between her adolescent love Heathcliff and the man trying to court her, Edgar Linton. Bronte illustrates this struggle on page 78 where Catherine cries, “I’ve no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn’t have thought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am.”

Loquacious, insubordinate, independent women were regarded with interest and suspicion. Comedy was a way of exploring such anxieties and diffusing them with laughter. In the patriarchal society of Much Ado conventional codes of honour, camaraderie and a sense of superiority to women regulate masculine loyalties. Although female inconstancy is presumed, Balthasar’s song deconstructs it and the fraud of men is dramatised in Claudio’s ruthless treatment of Hero.

Shakespeare also exemplifies this action by people in his play Othello by portraying it through his characters. In Othello, Othello shows this fear clearly when talking to Iago about the supposed affair committed by his wife. Othello states, “A man who’s been cheated on isn’t a real man. He’s subhuman, like an animal.” (Crowther).

Polonius is the father of Ophelia and he treats her as though she had no mind and own free will. Polonius speaks to Ophelia and says, “Marry, I‟ll teach you. Think yourself a baby… Running it thus—you‟ll tender me a fool,” (Hamlet 47) this mean that Polonius sees Ophelia as a foolish little baby dude to her choosing to believe the offers that Hamlet offered her. In addition, Polonius displayed sexism towards women by acknowledging them as foolish children that make the wrong decision if they are not made for them a man.

speak of horrors, he comes before me” (2.1.87-94). Sexual rejection not only keeps Hamlet in a state of madness but also Ophelia. Since both are “honest” they are suppressing the primal instinct that would help keep them socially and mentally functional. The maid qualities affect Hamlet much greater then it affects Ophelia and leaves him “castrated of power”; both of the revenge he has to face in Denmark’s hierarchy and his personal intimacy with Ophelia (Hunt). Overwhelmed by his madness Hamlet finally severs all relationship ties to Ophelia through an overly dramatic breakup monolog “I did love you once. .

A man (her father) told her what to do and then attempted to blame her as if it was all her idea. Men as her father are at fault. Only men are the ones who are depriving Ophelia from any true thought. And this shows that there is sexism going on throughout the span of the play. After being told to do something they expect her to do as she told and have created a diluted image in their heads that a women should be well behaved and should act upon request.

Under Shakespeare's molding, Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew gradually grows into an obedient and gentle wife, which differs immensely from her previous termagant image. Katherina's father Baptista favors her younger sister Bianca more than her because of Katharina's harsh temper, and the author depicts her character in the start of act II, KATHERINA. Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio? BIANCA. If you affect him, sister, here I swear 850

Love, power and money. All three of these are the most important themes throughout the two films Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You. Out of the two movies, I enjoyed 10 Things I Hate About You more than Taming of the Shrew. The 1999 movie relates closer to society now and I actually understood what they were talking about. After watching both movies and finding out that 10 Things I Hate about You was a take on a shakespearean play that was written in 1592, the similarities and difference between each movie started to show.

Literary Essay- Taming of the Shrew There is a popular romantic saying that claims opposites attract, meaning that people who are very different will fall in love. However, that is not often the case in real life, nor is it as true as it may seem in Shakespeare ’s play The Taming of the Shrew. The main couple, Katherina and Petruchio, experience countless conflicts in the beginning in the play.

The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare, follows the lives of two sisters, Katherine and Bianca as different suitors try to wed Bianca. Katherine is seen as a shrew by many people and her ‘shrewish’ behavior can be seen in her relationship with her sister Bianca. In 10 Things I Hate About You, a film adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, Bianca and Katherine also have a bad relationship, however Katherine’s shrewish behavior towards her sister is explained, allowing the audience to understand another side to Katherine and enhancing the play version of Katherine. Katherine and Bianca have a hostile relationship in both The Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I hate About You, however, both adaptations show that Katherine does not act like a shrew towards her sister out of spite, but because she has been emotionally hurt.

In “The Taming of the Shrew”, taming is the most significant word. Taming has the most powerful meaning. To Tame. To tame someone or something. When an individual chooses to tame someone or something, they are implying that this “thing” is less than them and will never be their equal.