At the time Shakespeare wrote The Taming of the Shrew the idealistics and attitudes to not only marriage, but also women were of a whole different nature.
At the time Shakespeare wrote The Taming of the Shrew the idealistics and attitudes to not only marriage, but also women were of a whole different nature. A woman would have had to be married to someone with the same social status. The man would indeed have to be rich and offer a safe and secure future. Marriage was based around social standings, money, trade and a way to make an alliance. At the time queen Elizabeth was on the thrown and society saw that unless a man owned property he could not vote. This meant that the average man had no vote and a wife would only be another asset to his collection. Elizabethan society saw women not as a partner or friend or an equal on the contrary, a servant, a way of making money, someone to sleep with. An idealistic woman for Elizabethan times would be a woman who would honour obey serve and have dignity. A woman would not work or have a choice or opinion on finances or property or any important matters. At the time to have a wife who would not follow her husband's orders and commands was a disgrace, and an embarrassment, which is the reason Petrucio went so far to tame Kate and prove everyone wrong. A woman had to look after listen to and respect her husband. Women who were considered shrews or to have a scolding tongue, then she was considered to be the wrong material for a wife. Men would never want a woman who dared to undermine her
How might we interpret Katherina's long speech at the close of the play? Use stage and screen productions of the play to inform your judgement.
How might we interpret Katherina's long speech at the close of the play? Use stage and screen productions of the play to inform your judgement. In your essay ensure you address the following: * What does she say about a wife's role in marriage in this speech? * How does this reflect prevailing attitudes to women and marriage in Shakespeare's times? * How might we interpret these lines, especially considering the influence of the devices Shakespeare uses? Kate's changes in Shakespeare's play, 'The Taming of the Shrew' are going to be examined here. I will look at Elizabethan attitudes towards women and see if Kate resolves to conform to these views or to retain her shrewish persona. Additionally I will examine Shakespeare's use of devices in her final speech (to see whether she is tamed) and how she is portrayed in Zeffirelli's film. Women in Shakespeare's time were not held in as high regard as men due to the hierarchical nature of society. At the head of this triangle of power in the Elizabethan society was God himself. This was because in Elizabethan times religion played a very important role in the lives of ordinary people and, interestingly, the Church itself was one of the most powerful and influential bodies (aside from the King) in society at the time. Also God was, and most often still is, portrayed as being male. On the next rung down from God was the King who
Explore the different nature of disguise and identity in 'The taming of the shrew.'
Explore the different nature of disguise and identity in 'The taming of the shrew.' The theme of disguise and deception to hide true identity is central to both the induction and the main action of the play; nearly every character pretends to be someone they are not. This trickery is portrayed in many ways. Sometimes an actual disguise is required, but with other characters the "disguise" is not an alteration of their physical appearance, but a change of their personality. Some characters appear to change their personality rather than alter their appearance. Most of the play's humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a 'play within a play' structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know that the play is not real thus making all events in the play false realities. Almost all characters in the play take on identities other than their own at some point of time during the play. The play contains many different types of disguise; the majority are physical changes in appearance. Tranio as Lucentio, Lucentio as Cambio, and Hortensio as Litio are all examples of this. However some
To many desultory observers The Taming of the Shrew may be conjectured as being profoundly misogynistic, an intolerable illustration of female subjugation in 16TH Century England.
Michael Billington, theatre critic for the Guardian, asked 'whether there is any reason to revive a play which seems totally offensive to our age and society' (6 May 1978). With particular reference to the final scenes of the play, explore the ways in which a modern audience can respond to Shakespeare's presentation of the relationship between Kate and Petruchio To many desultory observers The Taming of the Shrew may be conjectured as being profoundly misogynistic, an intolerable illustration of female subjugation in 16TH Century England. However in my opinion this is a far too superficial and perfunctory observation. The Taming of the Shrew displays enough ambiguity in its readings to support differing interpretations of its meaning and demonstrates its relevance to modern society. It is clear that one's own evaluation of the plight of Kate is an integral part of whether one finds the play offensive or not. On face value the shrewish Kate is tamed by the cruel, exploitative Petruchio who uses her father's wealth as his only reason to embark on their marriage; a marriage she despairingly tries and fails to resist. He embarrasses and degrades her, culminating in the final scene where Kate openly relinquishes her independence; grovellingly placing her hand under Petruchio's foot and lectures the other women about what should be their 'traditional' servant role within
"An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents Katerina in the play".
" An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents Katerina in the play" Katerina is the female protagonist of the play and to me the second most interesting character in it, next only to abominable Petruchio. The way Shakespeare presents her is very complex, entertaining and open to interpretation. She had been given many roles in the play; daughter to Baptista, sister to Bianca, fiancée and wife to Petruchio, suitor's worst nightmare, mistress to servants and of course the town Shrew.Kate is a complex character because Shakespeare had presented her so differently from other females of the period he lived in. Namely the time where a woman's highest virtues are her abilities to be obedient, placid, meek, uncomplaining, and discreet, plus their abilities in the homemaking process and those mundane things, like playing the pianoforte, painting and sewing. But Kate, as numerous others of Shakespeare's female protagonists, won't stand these stereotypical assumptions. She is of no 'gentler or milder mould' and is considered very 'froward' and compared to the 'devil' himself. She flaunts convention and isn't averse to quick thinking, wit, physical violence and strong language. Kate is a very determined character who taunts and mocks those people around her when she doesn't get her way. Shakespeare presents Kate's relationship and interaction with her family in a very steroetypical
Examine the different ways in which Shakespeare presents issues connected with marriage and male and female relationships in the play The Taming of the Shrew.
Sophie Johnstone 2CO Examine the different ways in which Shakespeare presents issues connected with marriage and male and female relationships in the play The Taming of the Shrew "The Taming of the Shrew" is a complex play, which involves a taming plot and the theme of appropriate behaviour within marriage in Shakespeare's time, and does so through the contrasting relationships of Petruchio and Katherina, and Lucentio and Bianca. Shakespeare highlights how important money is to people when committing themselves to marriage. This is portrayed through Petruchio, "That you shall be my wife; your dowry' greed on;" Shakespeare has made a point here of emphasising to the audience that money is a necessity for marriage. Shakespeare also draws the audience's attention to the character's values, which, is mainly money and social status. Money was so important as social status was a concern and without money you usually had none. He illustrates this again through Petruchio and his desire for Katherina's dowry, "As wealth is burden of my wooing dance". "The Taming of the Shrew", depicts a materialistic middle class and very masculine society and social inferiority is highlighted from the beginning when the Lord toys with Sly's mind, "O, that a mighty man of such descent". Society is highlighted when Katharina is presented worthless until she is tamed, and the conventional
How does Shakespeare present relationships between men and women in 'The Taming of The Shrew'?
How does Shakespeare present relationships between men and women in 'The Taming of The Shrew'? Shakespeare uses the relationships in the play in order to express his own views of society and the roles of men and women in the Elizabethan era. Through his portrayal of the two genders in the 'the Taming of the Shrew', in particular Petruchio and Katherina, Shakespeare demonstrates the idea that men are too dominant over the female race, and that women should be given a more contributory, and equal role in society. He does not explicitly show this, because it would have been seen as too diverse for 16th Century literature, but he does show parity as an underlying opinion in the play. A common motif in the play is the idea of money and wealth. This was seen as an important factor in life decisions such as marriage, particularly for men characters because, in the Elizabethan era, they owned all of their wife's belongings, riches and earnings, if any. Consequently marrying into wealth had a key part to play in happiness. In 'the Taming of the Shrew', this is apparent through Petruchio, and his marriage to Katherina. In the play, he is challenged to 'tame' her, and agrees to it because she is 'rich enough'. Katherina is referred to as 'shrewd and froward' by the men, and is ridiculed by Hortensio who 'would not wed her for a mine of gold'; Petruchio replies 'thou know'st not
An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents the characters and relationships of Kate and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew.
An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents the characters and relationships of Kate and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. The relationship between Kate and Petruchio is central to the development of The Taming of the Shrew, as both characters clearly represent and are centrally involved in the main theme of the play, the taming of the "shrew", Kate. The audience is first introduced to Kate by other characters' opinions of her, such rather than from Kate herself. Language such as Gremio's, 'she's too rough for me,' and Hotensio's, 'Unless you were of gentler milder mould,' gives Kate her reputation as a "shrewish" character. When Kate first speaks, she speaks rudely, threatening to hurt Hortensio by, 'combing his noddle with a three legged stool.' The fact that Kate is described as different and nonconformist before she even gets a chance to speak gives the audience preconceptions of her character, perhaps unfairly, and immediately paints her as a shrew. Much is heard about Kate when she is not around to defend herself, which gives the audience the impression that Kate is perhaps being portrayed unfairly. The audience may feel that Kate has a reason for being upset with her father and men in general, as her father appears to prefer Bianca to Kate. 'A pretty peat....' Shows Kate's jealousy towards her sister, as she is the one who gets all her fathers attention.
The Taming of the Shrew - Petruchio and Katherina's relationship.
Everyone has an opinion about Petruchio and Katherina's relationship. What is yours? There are many possible interpretations of the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina. A very superficial reading of the play might lead one to conclude for instance that it is an extremely sexist relationship and shows a man like Petruchio taking control of a 'shrew' like woman, in order to gain a dowry, the methods he uses both physically violent and psychologically crushing. Another interpretation might be that the play portrays a man and a woman, both of them hot headed and determined, working through their difficulties with one another, using exaggerated comic actions. A more feasible explanation probably lies somewhere between these two extremes, or as a clever compromise between the two. This essay sets out to debate whether or not the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina has some depth, or whether it is simply a demonstration of the gross sexism displayed towards women in Elizabethan society. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that this play is purely sexist and that the relationship between Katherina and Petruchio has nothing to do with love. For instance, when we first meet Katherina she is treated with contempt even by her father; he tries to marry her off to two older men Gremio or Hortensio. They refuse her and call her a "wench" and "mad", Baptista her
How does Shakespeare present society's treatment of women in "The Taming of The Shrew"?
How does Shakespeare present society's treatment of women in "The Taming of The Shrew"? Throughout "The Taming of The Shrew" the audience is shown the manner in which women were treated in the 16th Century. This is done through the female characters: Katherine, Bianca, Widow, Bartholomew: yet we must question Shakespeare's intentions. Was the play written in order to instruct inexperienced husbands as to how they could tame an unruly wife; which would display Shakespeare's acceptance of the treatment of the women; or is he mocking the customs of the time by using theatrical comedy to warn men who wish to consider 'taming' a wife, as Petruchio does in the last scene? "Petruchio: ... We three are married, but you two are sped. ..." (Act 5: Scene 2) He is making the point that Katherine may have been tamed. Yet both of the other men's wives have shown themselves to be 'shrews'. I referred above to Katherine having supposedly being 'tamed', yet we have to question why she was deemed that unacceptable to make it necessary to 'tame' her. At the time this play was written there were specific social norms, to which people had to conform, particularly in the way women were supposed to act. Shakespeare displays these in the Induction scenes, through Bartholomew. As part of the deceit, which is inflicted upon Christopher Sly in the Induction scenes, we are introduced to a