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The taming of the shrew gender roles
The sexism of the taming of the shrew
The sexism of the taming of the shrew
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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.
Contemporary 21st century society’s values have shifted from the rigid social structure that dictated the expectations of financial benefits from marriage to being greater than romantic love. Instead, a focus on cultivating deep connections of love, regardless of social status, is widely recognised by new audiences. The transactional relationship between Petruchio and Katherina in Taming of the Shrew effectively contrasts with 10 Things I hate about you, as it showcases deep romantic connections between the individuals. This is emphasised in the bright natural lighting and open setting of the stadium scene, when Patrick sings “Can't Take My Eyes Off You” to Kat. Accompanied with close-up shots of Kat’s face, Patrick captures growing affection and dedication towards a relationship, contrasting the,the transactional relationships depicted in The Taming of the Shrew.
Misogynism in Taming of the Shrew ` A misogynist is a person who repels, dislikes, or mistrusts women. There’s been several debates about this topic in Shakespeare’s comedy, Taming of the Shrew. Some believe that his play is quite sexist, and feminist have been on top of that, and the others believe that people are just comparing his play to modern times, and women were treated like that back then. The two sides each have a point, just depends in what point of view you see it at. Let’s look at it through the eyes of the people who believe the play is misogynistic.
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.
Throughout history, men have always dominated. They never let a woman rise to power or have the same rights. This sexism has been ingrained in society for thousands of years, so much so that it has defined some of the most famous works of literature, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This play was written during the Elizabethan Era, an era in which a woman had all the power imaginable (Queen Elizabeth), and yet, women were still severely discriminated against. Women had no say whatsoever in their society; they were not allowed to vote and they had very few legal rights (Papp, Joseph, Kirkland).
The movie does contain traditional views on dating but it also promotes independence among young women, going in the opposite direction of the original play “ I guess in this society, being male and an asshole makes you worthy of our time.” 10 Things I hate about you. Ultimately both stories The Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I hate about you are similar, especially in major plot elements. Their differences are in minor details, mainly due to the time period, but still impact the story significantly.
On the contrary, the traditional viewpoints of romantic love cause males to be to some extent misogynistic or mistreat women. Most of the main male characters tend to see them as a prize to “win” through romantic gestures, rather than genuinely having an emotional connection and a love that is more kin deep. In Shakespeare’s King Lear there are very few main female characters, only one is presented in a positive way. Despite this, all three female characters are “handled” in the same way. As McAlindon (1991) states, “King Lear “indicates that main source all injustice in society is the loss of human kindness and imaginative sympathy.”
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.
There is also a small competition to see how if the suitors can get Katherine's sister Bianca. This is a classic play among Shakespeare's work but it is brought with some controversies about woman. There have been many adaptations and revamps of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of The Shrew.” The Synetic Theater is going to add their unique portrayal of the story. The Synetic Theater mission is to “Synetic redefines theatre by blending innovative techniques and movement, investing in artists’ growth, and creating unforgettable visceral experiences for every audience.”
The adaption of the 1967 film “The Taming of the Shrew.” by Franco Zeffirelli, was a good adaption to the original play “The Taming of the Shrew.” by William Shakespeare, because the dialogue, and the scenes are followed well. Although going from a book to a film, you will always have some differences. In this case the alterations between the film, and the original play were minuscule. When you are reading a book, and then watching a movie, you can sometimes find yourself confused as to what is going on.
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.
Every modern society since the beginning of time has painted the female as frail and individuals at the mercy of men, unable to reap the same freedoms and aspirations as their male counterparts. The English Renaissance is no different as women were not allowed to play themselves on stage, and more often than not were seen as weak characters in their portrayal. In Shakespeare's “Hamlet”, all the female protagonists all have flaws that eventually leads to them meeting their deaths. The characters of Ophelia and Gertrude are two different women trapped in the same predicament, partly being due to the inefficacy of being taken seriously, and are therefore perceived as feeble women; looking at the persona of Ophelia, she tends to follow the direction
The taming of the shrew Like many of Shakespeare’s comedies “The Taming of the Shrew” features women who would be the stories protagonists, Biacna and Katherina Minola, at the start of the play, did not have a strong sisterly relationship, but as the play progresses, we see the two characters change individually, which have affected their relationship as seen towards the end of the play. Bianca Minola is a beautiful, silent and obedient women, and because of her beauty, many men fall in love with her at first sight. On the contrary, Katherine Minola is a fiery, quick tempered women who lashes out at any man who tries to woo her. Men dislike her personality and do not know how to handle such a shrew. The two protagonists did not have a strong
Taming of the Shrew was one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies. It was like a romantic comedy. It is centered on marriage, and how life is after marriage. Shakespeare uses many different themes in the play. He has the themes transformation, marriage, family, and education.
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.
