ipl-logo

Gender Roles In Shakespeare's Taming Of The Shr

465 Words2 Pages

Ever wonder about gender roles in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew? In Taming of the Shrew, the gender roles affect the characters in a rather negative way, and when they surface in the play, it’s rather shocking. This essay will discuss how gender roles affect the characters in what I believe is a negative way, and how they surface in the play. In this play, the men appear to have a particular idea on how all women should behave. They believe they should be quiet and obey the man, and this quote perfectly represents their beliefs But in the other's silence do I see/ Maid's mild behavior and sobriety./ Peace, Tranio! (I.i.3). Tranio believes that all men find Bianca attractive because of her obedience to her father and her silence, which …show more content…

This is when we discover how the men believe the women should be treated. It is also shown at the end when Kate makes her speech about how a wife should be submissive to her man. Such duty as the subject owes the prince/ Even such a woman oweth to her husband;/ And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,/ And not obedient to his honest will,/ What is she but a foul contending rebel (V.ii.7). In this quote, Kate compares wives to subjects of a prince. 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. Also, the gender roles surface in the beginning of the play when they meet Bianca, and at the end when Kate was shockingly tamed into the ideal

Show More
Related
865 Words | 4 Pages

In comparison to the movie, the play undermines male dominance by focusing on women’s efforts to solve their own problems. First of all, there aren’t even men in the cast of the play,

Read More
172 Words | 1 Pages

The opening of the play The Taming of the Shrew reinforces and challenges class and gender roles in Elizabethan England. In Induction 1 of the play, the character Christopher Sly makes his first appearance; he is being thrown out of an alehouse for not paying his tab. More interestingly, however, he is being thrown out by a woman, not a man. This hostess of the alehouse is taking on a non-traditional role for a woman during this time by throwing him out into the street; she is placing herself in a position of power over him. When Sly tries to yell at her in anger, she simply yells back at him, telling him she will have him put in the stocks, and that she is going to call the constable.

Read More
297 Words | 2 Pages

First off, throughout the whole play there’s been several comments that are used to hint that women are underlying to men. In the comedy, they had to do some “taming” on the woman,

Read More
1055 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout history, women have always been considered inferior to men. Women are typically supposed to stay home and care for the children, quieter than men, do not need an education, and are supposed to listen and do what they are told. The men are the ones in charge. They are “always at the top”, expected to work to provide for their family, and tell their wives what to do. When reading “Taming of the Shrew” by Shakespeare and watching “10 Things I hate About You” directed by Gil Junger, the stereotypes and gender role of Katherine (Kat) and the sisterly relationship between Katherine (Kat) and Bianca come across.

Read More
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
1197 Words | 5 Pages

Up until the play's third act, little to nothing is known about Bianca apart from three key facts – Katherina detests her, Baptista dotes on her and the men of Padua worship her. The moment she is left to her own devices, however, Bianca completely abandons her angelic façade and allows the audience to see another aspect of her personality. When Lucentio and Hortensio disagree over which "tutor" shall instruct Bianca first, she promptly puts an end to the argument: Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong To strive for that which resteth in my choice. I am no breeching scholar in the schools, I'll not be tied to hours nor 'pointed

Read More
1514 Words | 7 Pages

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, focuses on the tumultuous events that surround a regicide. Despite being the shortest of Shakespeare’s plays, in his critical study of the play A. C. Bradley concludes that due to its vehement nature the audience is left with an impression “not of brevity but of speed” . The principal female character of Lady Macbeth is arguably one of his most contentious. Consumed with intense passion, ambition and greed she challenges the subservient role of the traditional Elizabethan woman. She has disturbed, horrified and intrigued both contemporary and modern audiences alike through her powerful diction.

Read More
998 Words | 4 Pages

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you see a woman with a man? You automatically think that the man is the one calling all the shots in the relationship. You also wonder why some women act as if they are the man of the relationship. But in the play Macbeth ;Shakespeare wanted to show that gender doesn't mean anything. From the year of 1040-1057; Macbeth was a king that actually existed in Scotland.

Read More
815 Words | 4 Pages

Like an auctioneer standing at the block, Baptista ‘sold’ his daughter off to the highest bidder. However, whether willing or unwilling, it was certain that Bianca was to be married off eventually. Because, unlike in modern society, women were considered ‘unfit’ to live independently and forced into marriages, as shown especially in Kate’s ‘taming’ by Petruchio. Because the society was entirely male-driven, both sisters “have no option but marriage and will be utterly dependent on whatever husband they can get” (Adney

Read More
1898 Words | 8 Pages

“And though she be but little, she is fierce” -William Shakespeare. In today’s day and age, one of the greatest topics of debate is gender roles. It is evident everywhere, from cyberspace to the streets of home, from online petitions to marches across the country such as the Women’s March. Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan Era of England, where Queen Elizabeth I, the virgin queen ruled.

Read More
1408 Words | 6 Pages

Within this play, there are many conflicts between feuding families and even individuals. Since societal expectations were so great of both genders, much pent-up frustration for those who did not perfectly conform was frequently released in the form of violence or aggression. It also went the other way around, where those who did not fit all of the standards were shamed and embarrassed for the way they were. Two characters in which the gender traits were partially switched are Romeo and Juliet. In their relationship, Juliet is more dominant, and Romeo is more submissive.

Read More
1183 Words | 5 Pages

In the popular play Macbeth, Shakespeare compares the gender stereotypes portrayed to those different pre-existing ideas from other generations such as the 1900’s, the 50’s, and even today 's society. Macbeth has plenty of examples of the exaggeration of gender roles that clearly differentiate male and female by construing their proper roles as polar opposite or complementary. Examples proving that there are gender stereotypes in Macbeth pertain to characters such as Lady Macbeth, The Witches, and Macbeth himself. In Macbeth, the many different stereotypes of gender roles from throughout the century to today’s society have been displayed in many aspects of the play. With examples of the exaggeration of gender constructs pertaining to the male

Read More
1360 Words | 6 Pages

Furthermore, Feminist Criticism provides a better view of literature because it shows that women can be powerful. When Emilia finds out that her husband has been plotting an evil plan she says,” Tis proper I obey him, but not now”(Othello V.2.195). Emilia refuses to help her husband after she finds the cruel intentions he has despite the expectation of women always being submissive to their husbands. Women also have a voice and feelings, they are capable of defying their husbands commands when they know what he expects is simply wrong. In a literary article,The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading states that,” Society weighs heavily on the shoulders of women; they feel that they must support the men and defer to them, even if the actions of the men are questionable” (Literary Articles).

Read More
1395 Words | 6 Pages

Gender Roles: Interpreting The Opposite Sex In today’s society men and women are often expected to perform different tasks, and occupy different roles based on their sex. Within different cultures, the view of how women and men should act and interact varies with political and religious influences, as well as personal influences. Geoffrey Chaucer suggests that people’s ability to understand the opposite sex is divided because of the stereotypes set in society for the opposite genders. Women are more likely to work as secretaries, and men are likely expected to work as managers and executives in the working field.

Read More
1205 Words | 5 Pages

The male roles in the family seem to be above females’ because they get to make decisions for girls. Men feel dominant to women, so the same behaviors as the women are acceptable for them. Along with these, the ladies are not expected to crave love and affection like the gentlemen do. The gender issue of men being dominant and women being submissive used in the drama, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, shows the differences in the roles, behaviors, and expectations appropriate for each gender and is an example of an outdated stereotype. Unlike the time frame of this literature, women in the present are valued equal to men.

Read More

More about Gender Roles In Shakespeare's Taming Of The Shr

Open Document