Gender Roles In The Taming Of The Shrew

When it comes to the way modern society functions, somebody’s gender can influence the amount of respect given to them. This exact structure of power based on gender was in place during the English Renaissance era. This is when English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare, created his most famous works, where these ideologies of gender superiority are evident. He uses his plays to critique society and its flaws. In The Taming of The Shrew, the complex character of Katherine and her arranged marriage with Pertruichio makes a mockery of her true identity and develops the plot as well as the theme that misogyny and gender roles defined humanity in the English Renaissance era.
In Shakespeare’s play, Kathrine, the daughter of Baptista, is an

By doing so, he is threatening Katherine's femininity, and making a mockery of her characterization. Undermining Katherine’s intelligence and viewing her wit as a negative trait showcases the control gender roles had over society at that time. The core reason Kathrine faced so much backlash from the rest of society is because she is a woman. If a wealthy man during this time period is possessing all of these same traits, he would have been praised as opposed to mocked. While Kathrine seeks independence, Pertruchio seeks control. He feels as if he needs to make Kathrine aware of his intentions by more than sly and disrespectful remarks. By doing this, he’s asserting his male dominance to show Kathrine he wants her to obey him. Pertuchio feels entitled to Kathrine's hand in marriage.This is not only because of his conversation with Baptista, but because of the idea that a woman is wed or a shrew that was present in society during this time. “Thou must be married to no man but me, For I am he who is born to tame you, Kate, And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate Conformable as other household Kates”(II.i.267–270). Petruchio is determined to tame Kathrine. She is trapped in her relationship with Petruchio, as her dad arranged the two of them. Kathrine had no input on this decision. Her contentment with her independence conflicts with Pertruchio’s need for control. This conflict makes a

Kate, as strong-headed as she is, would not give in to Pertruchios's verbal coercion. This causes Pertuchio to torture her, further mocking and undermining her solidarity. The combined pressure of mental, verbal, and physical abuse affects Kathrine’s motives which originally became evident at the beginning of the play. All these external factors are simplifying her as a character, and forcing her to fit into the spouse archetype of the English Renaissance era. It causes Kathrine to question Pertuchio’s intentions further, as well as question her actions. “The more my wrong, the more his spite appears. What, did he marry me to Famish me?” ( IV. iii. 2-3) This prompts tension between the couple. Once again, the events in Katherine's life deride her identity. She is trapped in a situation she cannot escape from that mocks her need for independence. Kates ending monologue reflects not a different side of her, but a completely different person. While the audience of the play can mourn the loss of who Katherine used to be, the play continues to clown her, even though she now behaves how women did in that time. “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee” (V..140–141). Katherine's devotedness towards Petruchio at the end of the play is Shakespeare's way of commentating on the gender roles enforced upon society at that time. It is mocking