Patriarchy In Taming Of The Shrew

Katherina Minola, the main character of William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, is not a shrew; she is simply a woman who has opinions. In the setting of Shakespeare’s time, the patriarchy is absolutely monstrous. Any woman who speaks her mind is out of line, and menfolk know what’s best. As clearly shown in the play, society as a whole does not care what Kate thinks. The way the townspeople and her family have treated her throughout her life forced her into a more outspoken, aggressive nature.
In the ending scene of the play, Kate has become a paragon for women of the time. Evidently, when a shrew ceases to be one, other women must bear the title. Petruchio tells Katherina to throw her hat on the ground, and she complies. Bianca calls the exchange foolish duty, and, in Act IV scene II, Lucentio (her husband) replies, “I would your duty were as foolish too”. Bianca and the Widow, though they are consistently mild in manner, disappoint their husbands by not jumping at the opportunity to serve them and thus become shrews themselves. Being ‘disobedient’ makes the women seem bad-tempered to their privileged mates.
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However, as she was ignored more and her views were rejected, a choice had to be made; bite her tongue or teach her tongue to bite. As Kate says, her sting is in her tongue (2.1.224-227). The author of The Taming of the Shrew: Modern Criticism and Critical Controversies cites Nevo’s opinion that the way Baptista and the citizens of Padua treat Katherina is the root of her violent temper (Gender). Kate chose to fight back in this instance. She fought bravely for years in spite of her own sister, who was as much of a problem as anyone else. Kate may have once been a good little girl like her Bianca; the change from angel to demon occurs when a nonconformist such as Kate begins to form and express their views. At this point, her younger sister is placed on a pedestal for her