What does a moderon audience learn about marriages and the roles of men and women in Shakespeares' 'The Taming Of The Shrew'

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What does a modern audience learn about marriages and the roles of men and women in Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’?

During Shakespeare’s time the role of men and women were very different in society.’ The Taming of the Shrew’ emulates these attitudes and I shall analyze how marriage and the roles of men and women shown in the play.

In ‘The Taming of the Shrew not all of the daughters in a family could marry for love, the eldest daughter had to marry first before the younger daughters could marry. This is why Bianca couldn’t marry Hortensio, “And will not promise her to any man, until her eldest sister is wed first.” In Shakespeare’s time one of the most important things to a father was that his daughters marry men of good caliber, with wealthy homes and an authoritative family. Petruchio tries to prove that he can offer all these things to his eldest daughter, Katherina. “You knew my father well, and in him me, Left solely heir to all his lands and goods, Which I have bettered rather than decreased.” Petruchio knows that Baptista wants the best for his daughter and Petruchio persuades Baptista that he can offer the best for his daughter. A lot of the marriages in Shakespeare’s time would have been married off for money, but sometimes the man wouldn’t marry for love either. During this time era whatever the women owned the man would inherit, in the play this is often referred to as his ‘Dowry’ and Petruchio is very engrossed about what his dowry will be, “What dowry shall I have with her to wife? (Baptista) After my death, the one half of my lands. And in possession twenty thousand crowns.” Twenty Thousand Crowns is a huge amount of money and to Petruchio it is just another way of making some quick easy cash.

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In Shakespeare’s time women were treated as possessions in marriage and they were not expected to be outspoken or independent, like Katherina. “She is my goods, my chattel; she is my house, My household-stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything.” This shows how little Petruchio cared about Katherina and how women were seen as possessions. Today it is much more different because women have there own independence and are expected to be outspoken and independent.

In Shakespeare’s comedies, the plays often end with a feast or celebration to symbolise the ...

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