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Gender in literature
Gender in literature
Taming of the shrew summary
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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.
Modern day communication and relationships were vastly different but, the movie really portrayed the “lovey-dovey” aspect of The Taming of the Shrew. The movies atmosphere and era helped with that portrayal. Seeing as women were not just property but more leaning towards as actual human beings and “almost” equal in standards to men. Leading into my final subject the role of women in these
However, both Kate and Kat reject the norms and expectations of their social class, which sets them apart from their peers. Patrick from "10 Things I Hate About You" and Petruchio from "The Taming of the Shrew" are both members of the upper class. Petruchio is a wealthy gentleman while Patrick's father is a doctor. Both characters have access to resources that are not available to working-class or lower-class individuals. However, while Petruchio uses his wealth and status to assert his dominance over others, Patrick uses his privilege to rebel against societal norms and
The two stories that are being compared are, Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I hate about you. Taming of the shrew is a play written by William Shakespeare about a woman named Kathrin who knows as a shrew and gets tamed by a wealthy man that’s named Petruchio who try’s to tame “A shrew.” Then there’s ten things about you that is a remake of Taming of the Shrew, but it’s placed in a high school that’s in the 90’s and theses two girls are sisters, Kate and Bianca, what ever Kate does then Bianca can do it, and Kate is the “shrew.” The difference between the relationship of Kate and Petruchio in the play Taming of the Shrew and 10 things I hate about you is seen through Petruchio’s motivation to be with Katherine. This ultimately influences the way Katherine responds to him and is “tamed.”
Through his incentive, he is very determined to marry Kate even though she comes with money, marriage, and a malicious attitude. In addition, Petruchio does not care if his wife is a shrew or foul, he just asks "...if thou know one rich enough to be Petruchio's wife" (1.2.68). Not to mention, after Hortensio tells him of Kate, Petruchio only says to "...tell [him] her father's name, and tis enough" (1.2.95). Petruchio understands that Kate has a "...scolding tongue" (1.2.101) even though Hortensio warms him. Due to his incentive to cure Kate of her shrew-ish ways and to get Baptista's money.
This was all just an act that Petruchio was playing to “tame” Katherine. He wanted her to start acting the way she was supposed to, more like her sister Bianca who was the favored sister. He also had a goal of gaining some money because katherine was a part of a rich family. Katherine was very different than all the rest of the women when it came to gender ideals. She needed to be “tamed” and start acting like all the rest of the women.
Gil Junger’s modern adaptation, 10 Things I Hate About You, is an effective modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s original play, The Taming of the Shrew, because throughout both portrayals characters challenge social classes such as the master versus servant, and the popular versus geek relationships while still making the story relatable to the audience. In the play, The Taming of The Shrew, William Shakespeare is able to create a story that presents a theme of breaking the social hierarchy through the servant and master relationships. During the time that this play takes place, the idea of a servant playing an important role in society would have been seen as impossible, but this is not the case with Lucentio and Tranio. Technically Tranio is Lucentio’s servant, but he is not treated like this.
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.
Taming of the Shrew is a dramatic comedy in which several suitors try to captivate and marry a beautiful woman named Bianca. However, the suitors stumble upon an issue; Bianca’s older sister, Kate, is not married. Bianca is only eligible for marriage if Kate is married, so the suitors set out to find Kate a man. During Taming of the Shrew, the suitors of both Kate and Bianca are dishonest and deceive the sisters using disguises and mind games which results in a breakdown of all the characters.
Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’ is a controversial play as it includes ideas which do not correspond with the norms of the era in which it was written. It even goes as far as to mock the traditional views on marriage and gender roles in society. There are many enduring themes that are explored throughout the play, but the most significant the theme of deception and the idea that the truth eventually is revealed. The most prominent dramatic techniques in Shakespearean plays are language as there are no stage directions available, therefore as the lack of it, it is the directors’ actions which determine how the characters are interpreted. Shakespeare is often seen contradicting himself, as the play goes on, this reveals the thinking process
Walter Engel Meaghan Pachay English 2220 18 April 2023 Short Paper 2 The Taming of The Shrew comically and farcically dramatizes the bizarre romance of Katherina and Petruchio to reflect the changing cultural era in which it was written. Within this drama, Shakespeare illustrates a caricature of the gender norms starting to be left behind in the Elizabethan era. Through overemphasis and satire, Shakespeare offers up a covert criticism of marital roles. At face value, the play promotes a twisted vision of marriage, wherein a froward woman is “tamed” through relentless courting and psychological manipulation.
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.
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.
It is a story of how Petruchio, the money-grubbing wife hunter, transforms the aggressive and bad-tempered Katherine Minola into an obedient, honey-tounge trophy wife. Written by William Shakespeare between 1590 and 1594, it's one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies. It is also one of his most controversial works as well. The Taming of the Shrew has been criticized for its representation of abusive behavior and misogynistic attitudes toward women, and the play has pretty much been dogged since it was first performed. There is a lot of evidence that Shrew made, even Shakespeare's contemporary audiences more than a little squeamish.
The three social classes during the time of the Renaissance were comprised of people who lived very different lives. The wealthy class were the people with most control. Men would be abusive towards their servants, and wives, however the only reason they would act this way, was because they wanted to give off the appearance that they were the ones with the money, the power, and no one was allowed to tell them otherwise. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare revolves around the wealthy, such as Petruchio, Petruchio was abusive towards his servants, and his wife Katherine, he also made it his priority to find a way to “tame” his wife, thus having control. The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare celebrates male dominance in marital and social hierarchies and encourages abusive behaviors towards people of a low status.