The Taming Of The Shrew is a play written by William Shakespeare in the early 1590s. The play tells the story of how a rude and unruly man, Petruchio, tames his shrewish wife, Katherine. While the story is mainly focused on Petruchio and Katherine’s relationship, it also explores the role of women in society and their place within the household.
At the time that The Taming Of The Shrew was written, women were generally seen as property of their husbands and had little to no say in how they were treated. This is most clearly shown in the final scene of the play, where Katherine agrees to everything that her husband says and bows down to him. However, there are some elements of the play that suggest a change in how women were viewed.
For example, while Katherine is initially portrayed as a wild and unruly woman, she eventually becomes a subservient wife. This could be interpreted as Shakespeare’s way of suggesting that it is possible for women to be tamed, as long as they have a man who is willing to put in the effort. Additionally, there are several instances where Katherine speaks her mind and stands up to her husband, which suggests that she is not entirely content with her role within society.
Ultimately, The Taming Of The Shrew provides an interesting exploration of women’s roles in society during the 16th century. While it ultimately upholds the status quo, there are some elements that suggest a change in how women were viewed.
In Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” women are defined as being objectified and subservient to men, adapting to preconceived stereotypes about gender. Masculine value systems that support authoritarianism in society and promote subjugation and subordination of women In the narrative, Shakespeare subtly illustrates a relationship founded on trust involving two clever people who learn to respect one another.
In the play, Katherine is initially shown to be headstrong and unyielding, rebuffing all of Petruchio’s attempts to control her. However, after being ‘tamed’ she eventually becomes a submissive and obedient wife. Forced into a role which does not reflect her true personality, Katherine can be seen to symbolize the limitations that women face under a patriarchal society. In contrast, Baptista Minola’s younger daughter Bianca is granted more agency and freedom, as she is able to choose her own husband. This can be seen as an early indication of the changing attitudes towards women in the seventeenth century.
While it could be argued that Shakespeare presents a negative view of women in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, it is also worth noting that the play contains some strong female characters. For example, Grumio, Petruchio’s servant, is presented as a comic relief character and her lines are often spoken by women in Shakespearean productions. This could be interpreted as an indication that Shakespeare was not entirely dismissive of women’s intelligence and agency.
Despite the fact that the play starts off with a powerful-willed, brave female character, the conclusion undermines this by showing Kate seeming to submit to her role as the domesticated wife, “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, and keeper,” in violation of her previously held values. Petruchio transforms Kate by supposedly destroying her spirit. The idea of taming her is shown to be that she must live for her spouse.
In other words, Kate is not allowed to have her own voice or identity, and must instead succumb to the will of a man.
It could be said that this play is reflective of the gender roles and expectations of women in Shakespeare’s time. Women were seen as subordinate to men, and were often restricted in their actions and choices. They were expected to be obedient and docile, catering to the needs of their husbands and families. This is most clearly seen in Kate’s character arc throughout the play – from a strong-willed woman who defies her father, to a woman who ultimately submits to the will of her husband.
While Taming Of The Shrew is problematic in its presentation of women, it is nevertheless an interesting and important piece of literature. It provides a unique insight into the gender roles and expectations of women during Shakespeare’s time, and continues to be studied and analysed by scholars today.
The conclusion of the play demonstrates that despite her gender, Kate’s male superiority is affirmed at the end. Though it is not immoral for Kate to submit, the technique in which she does so strongly supports the patriarchal notion that women are inferior to men. Petruchio “plays the part of a bully… he subjects her to mental anguish… and physical abuse,” despite previously valuing her independence.
In this way, the Taming of the Shrew can be seen as a reinforcement of traditional gender roles and an encouragement for women to accept their positions within society.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for women in the play. There are moments where Kate does defy Petruchio and express her own desires and opinions. For example, when they first meet, she tells him that she will not be tamed “so easily” and later in the play she refuses to eat unless he agrees to her terms. These moments suggest that there is potential for resistance against male dominance even within a patriarchal society. In this way, The Taming of the Shrew can be seen as a warning against complacency and a call for women to be ever vigilant in the fight for their rights.
Taming of the Shrew is a play that has been analysed for centuries, and it continues to be studied by scholars today. Taming of the Shrew can be interpreted as reflective of patriarchal society – with women being seen as subordinate to men and restricted in their actions or choices. In Taming Of The Shrew, Kate’s male superiority is affirmed at the end; she “submits” after her spirit was supposedly destroyed when Petruchio subjected her to mental anguish and physical abuse despite previously valuing her independence.
However, Taming Of The Shrew also offers some hope for women who are interested in fighting against patriarchy even within traditional gender roles: there are moments where Kate does defy Petruchio and express herself freely without fear of reprisal. Taming Of The Shrew can be seen as a warning against complacency and a call for women to always be vigilant in the struggle for their rights.
