Taming of the Shrew Paper
12.2.12
Taming of the Shrew Paper
Gender roles have normally been dominated by men, with women unwillingly submitting to them. In William Shakespeare’s, The Taming of the Shrew, this idea is presented with the characters Kate and Petruchio. Kate brings about a new attitude of women becoming dominant that is not accepted by Petruchio or the rest of society. Without any support to help her, Kate is unable to keep her own character and conforms to be an obedient wife. In the play Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare uses the character Kate to display men’s power to break down a woman’s confidence and to portray the patriarchal relationship in marriages of the time. Kate proves to be a dominant and strong woman in the beginning of the novel, who does not back down to anybody. Kate’s loud personality allows her words to be strong against men. When Petruchio first meets Kate, he acts as though he is above her, but she does not let him feel superior. She answers his ignorant talk with, “To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool / And paint your face and use you like a fool” (Shakespeare 1.1.65-6). Kate’s independence and will out speaks anyone who tries to confront her. She is not content unless she has her way, and will never give into another’s will if she does not agree. Kate can also talk back to men without being afraid of the consequences. In a fight with Petruchio she states, “If I be waspish, best beware my sting” (Shakespeare 2.1.223). Unlike many women of the time, Kate does not consider the consequences her words could have on her after she speaks. She shows her independence and how she will not let anyone come over her. Further, Kate’s demeanor is something that the men in the play do not normally see. The men are unable to understand her, let alone able to tame her. Garner explains it well with, “We come to understand, perhaps, that Kate does not deserve this kind of denunciation, that the male characters rail so against her because she refuses to
Taming of the Shrew Paper
Gender roles have normally been dominated by men, with women unwillingly submitting to them. In William Shakespeare’s, The Taming of the Shrew, this idea is presented with the characters Kate and Petruchio. Kate brings about a new attitude of women becoming dominant that is not accepted by Petruchio or the rest of society. Without any support to help her, Kate is unable to keep her own character and conforms to be an obedient wife. In the play Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare uses the character Kate to display men’s power to break down a woman’s confidence and to portray the patriarchal relationship in marriages of the time. Kate proves to be a dominant and strong woman in the beginning of the novel, who does not back down to anybody. Kate’s loud personality allows her words to be strong against men. When Petruchio first meets Kate, he acts as though he is above her, but she does not let him feel superior. She answers his ignorant talk with, “To comb your noddle with a three-legged stool / And paint your face and use you like a fool” (Shakespeare 1.1.65-6). Kate’s independence and will out speaks anyone who tries to confront her. She is not content unless she has her way, and will never give into another’s will if she does not agree. Kate can also talk back to men without being afraid of the consequences. In a fight with Petruchio she states, “If I be waspish, best beware my sting” (Shakespeare 2.1.223). Unlike many women of the time, Kate does not consider the consequences her words could have on her after she speaks. She shows her independence and how she will not let anyone come over her. Further, Kate’s demeanor is something that the men in the play do not normally see. The men are unable to understand her, let alone able to tame her. Garner explains it well with, “We come to understand, perhaps, that Kate does not deserve this kind of denunciation, that the male characters rail so against her because she refuses to