Taming Of The Shrew Gender Roles

Shakespeare is known for introducing new concepts and opinions, especially about social classes, into his plays and for that he was considered ahead of his time. In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare disputes roles in the social classes during the Renaissance Era. His portrayal of characters throughout the play revealed the stereotypes that were created by society. Shakespeare voiced his opinions about these social classes in the Renaissance Era because he didn’t agree with the power and gender roles. Throughout the play, the role of power is evident in society and in Katherine and Petruchio’s marriage. While talking with Katherine for the first time, Petruchio tells her “For I am he am born to tame you, Kate… Never make denial; / I must and will have Katharine to my wife” (Shakespeare 2.1.272-7). This was the first way that Petruchio established his

According to Erin Furstnau, audiences tended to “suppress the knowledge that men, not only on the stage, but off, wrote the play and assigned the roles, chose the game and made the rules” (Furstnau). This demonstrates how the play echoes everyday life in that men were just as controlling both onstage and off. Shakespeare exaggerated the men’s role in The Taming of the Shrew to convince the audience that the gender roles and expectations were unreasonable. In Act 4.5, Petruchio expresses how bright the moon was shining even though he knows that it is the sun that is shining. Confused, Katherine argues that it is not the moon until she is forced to abide with Petruchio’s observation (Shakespeare 2-22). Shakespeare uses a metaphor to compare Petruchio and Katherine to the moon and the sun, respectively. In this case, Petruchio, the moon, is above Katherine, the sun, in terms of direction and guidance in their relationship; without the moon, the sun would be