ipl-logo

The Theme Of Sexism In The Taming Of The Shrew

762 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Gender roles in the taming of the shrew

In William Shakespeare’s “The taming of the shrew” is about two sisters and their love interests. Bianca is incredibly beautiful and has numerous suitors asking for her hand, and Katherine, is quick tongued and has been deemed as a shrew. Their father, Baptista, decides Bianca cannot be married off until Katherina is, thus Bianca’s suitors plan to ‘tame’ the shrew so they can finally attain Bianca’s hand in marriage. The play explores the themes of hate, sexism, love and how in societies eyes that the perfect wife is obedient.

Although Katherine and Bianca are sisters their relationship is quite strained, Katherine feels envious of her sister’s beauty and status. Their relationship is filled with hatred from Katherine along with Bianca’s sense of superiority towards the other as their father is fonder of her, as she has numerous men courting her. In a general sense, the common rivalry between siblings is also often manifested in physical violence. This is portrayed in a specific sense in the play in Act II, scene I, where “the cruel Katherine” has bound Bianca's hands and is questioning her about suitors, when Bianca laughs at Katherine, Katherine hits her. Their relationship is filled with jealousy, and we only really get to see their growth once they both are getting …show more content…

Petruchio tries to manipulate Katherine by using techniques to “tame” her. “Eventually, she becomes so enraged that she hits him, but he continues the game just the same, saying that he will marry her whether she is willing: “will you, nill you, I will marry you” (II.i.263). Petruchio goes to Kate’s father and manipulates him into thinking that Katherine has consented to marry him, but Baptista when met with the truth from Katherine, does not believe her, as she may be his daughter, but Petruchio is a

Show More
Related
973 Words | 4 Pages

Petruchio is determined to tame Kathrine. She is trapped in her relationship with Petruchio, as her dad arranged the two of them. Kathrine had no input on this decision. Her contentment with her independence conflicts with Pertruchio’s need for control. This conflict makes a

Read More
1346 Words | 6 Pages

I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands.” and it follows with “Katherine strikes her” (Shakespeare Act 2 Line 21). Katherine had tied her up and hit her to get her point across. She wanted to belittle her sister and shame her for having so many suitors. Now, in the movie one of the arguments that the sister has over one of Bianca’s love interests ended in Bianca saying “You suck.”

Read More
510 Words | 3 Pages

Besides Katherine's speech, the play has lots of misogynistic themes and moments. Petruchio's behavior toward Katherine highlights this through his harsh "taming" methods. He deprives her of food and sleep, messes with her sense of reality, and manipulates her emotions. Petruchio acts this way because he deeply believes that women should see them as lords and as someone to obey. For instance, when he proclaims on page x, line x, "I am he born to tame you."

Read More
809 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
594 Words | 3 Pages

Lastly he makes Kate believe everything he says no matter what, and when she agrees with him he calls her stupid, to make her submissive to him. This is his plan and it is a very cruel one. Petruchio

Read More
1093 Words | 5 Pages

Shakespeare’s play celebrates Kates wit and fiery spirit even while reveling in her humiliation. The play can be used as an example for the views of marriage in the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the play could be sued as an example of what a wife was supposed to be like. Gossipy wives in the sixteenth and seventeenth century were to be submissive and were not to undermine the authority of their husband. The Taming of the Shrew emphasized, to the women of that time, that they would always end up being a submissive and dependent wife. On the other hand 10 Things I hate about you is more focused on the ideas of individualism, dating, and trust.

Read More
1215 Words | 5 Pages

Posing as a tutor allows him to not only grow close to Bianca, but also to Baptista. Earning Baptista’s trust is essential to him gaining Bianca’s hand in marriage and her dowry. Although Bianca is highly sought after, Baptista favors her over her sister, Katherine, and thus shields her from potential suitors. Lucentio not only uses his disguise to deceive Bianca, but he is deceived. Lucentio attempts to be clever in order to “win” Bianca, but Bianca is not what she seems to be. All the suitors want to marry Bianca because she is beautiful and

Read More
760 Words | 4 Pages

That comment says that Kate is speechless. She sees him acting like a tyrant but she will be labeled a hypocrite if she judges him. Killing her with kindness will make her realize what she is doing sooner or later, Kate will be nothing more than a tamed pet. Her behavior has changed because now that she is married, she now feels secure and since that has happened her true personality will be soon revealed. Now that she no longer has Kate on her shoulders Bianca no longer has to stay quiet and collect, the shrew is now Bianca.

Read More
547 Words | 3 Pages

In the play The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare writes about two couples that are completely different. One couple is Petruchio and Katherine, and the other is Lucentio and Bianca. Throughout the play there are a lot of differences that are shown between their relationships. I will write about these in the following paragraphs. The first couple I’m going to write about is Petruchio and Katherine.

Read More
815 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
877 Words | 4 Pages

Petruchio even turns her defiant nature into a game, betting on whose wife will come back first when called, treating her like an animal, and acting as her owner. Kate was abused so much that she lost many defining characteristics that do not revolve around her husband, as they were seen as improper, further exhibiting Shakespeare’s belief in proper gender

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

Despite her prior tag of the shrew, Petruchio manages to change the views of the men and the behavior of Katherina. She expressed to her sister and the widow that her “husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper”. Katherina went as far to say that she was “ashamed that women are so simple to offer war where they should kneel for peace” which goes against her previous beliefs harshly (Shakespeare 5.2.85). Katherina being “tamed” was considered an accomplishment to Petruchio who was patted on the back for transforming the “curst shrew” into his faithful wife (Shakespeare 5.2.86). After Katherina was the perfect wife Petruchio placed bets on her and used her as a trophy.

Read More
465 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
888 Words | 4 Pages

“Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare is a comedy. This play which was turned into a book, was one of the few forms of entertainment in the Shakespearean era. All people both the nobles and the groundlings filled small theaters, with the nobles sitting in seats and the groundlings standing in the pit, come to see an entertaining show. Shakespeare had the challenge of needing to please everyone watching his play so that he and his actors get paid. One of the productions that he would put on is “Taming of the Shrew”.

Read More
761 Words | 4 Pages

Love is the most powerful emotion, making it the most dangerous. Taming of the shrew written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th Century, has had many different adaptations two of which are: The 1967 version of Taming of the shrew directed by Franco Zeffirelli and the cult classic 1999 version 10 things I hate about you both of which shine and interesting light on the play is it an act of misogyny or an act of a man liberating a woman from society. I believe that it is an act of misogyny and will be discussing this in the following presentation through the comparison of both films. In Franco Zefferelli’s version of Taming of the shrew there were many characters, but as for the difference in time periods there are only few that I would resonate with, for that reason I chose the character Bianca, as in Taming of the shrew (1967)

Read More

More about The Theme Of Sexism In The Taming Of The Shrew

Related Topics

Open Document