Petruchio Gender Roles

Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew focuses mainly on gender roles through Petruchio taming Kate by forcing her to act as a submissive wife. The main theme throughout this play was the contradicted roles of genders. The acts of Petruchio throughout the play shows the basic depiction of a male from the perspective of Shakespeare. He basically acts like a man who has supreme power over his wife and can do whatever he wants. His carless behavior is highlighted when he came to the wedding “in a new hat and an old jerkin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned, a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, another laced; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town armory, with a broken hilt and chapeless; with two broken points; his horse hipped, with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred” (Act III. Scene ii. page 46). On the other hand, Kate who used to rebel against male supremacy, starts acting as a woman after being tamed by Petruchio. “Unknit that threat'ning unkind brow and dart not scornful glances from those eyes to wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.” (Act V. scene ii page 85). Kate

Couple of these stereotypes are the males being the lord, owning most of the land, choosing everything in their life. This was shown when they arrived at Petruchio’s house. He decided whether the meat was good or not. He even threw it away after Kate begged him that the food wasn’t dry or overcooked. Female stereotypes that were mentioned in the comedy were that she had to obey her husband, always be nice and not to defend herself, accept anything that happens to her and her husband is always right. Obviously this is not present today. The idea of a man being complete ruler over his wife is not present these days. Some stereotypes that are common today about males are being strong, tough, and brave. While female stereotypes are being weak, love the color pink, and have clean jobs like