Tang Muy Keang 1

Muy Keang Tang

Andrea Bernoth

9 English and Literature 3

9 April 2021

The Taming Of The Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew (TTOTS) written by William Shakespeare takes place

during the Renaissance Era where it tells the story of a husband who’s controlling his

obstinate wife during his marriage years. The whole play includes scenes involving social

expectations, misogyny and sexism, especially towards women. Kate is short-tempered

and unbearable when it comes to character, which does not correspond to the standard

gender roles. She receives negative comments from people all around her due to her

rebellious attitude. The more women act against society expectations, the less chance of

them receiving affection from anyone.

There are various points that link to the same idea, which is misogyny, in this play.

Women are referred to as animals and they are treated as objects and belongings from the

evidence below. Petruchio began his taming process at the wedding ceremony by saying the

following:

“I will be master of what is mine own.

She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,

My household stuff, my field, my barn,

My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything” (Shr. 3.2. 227-230).

This claims that Kate is now in his possession and he also gave her a warning, showing how

capable he is of aggression. Moreover, it is evident that he views women as objects as he

compares her to his property, from objects to animals. Spoken by the same person, Petruchio

have also said:

“Thus have I politicly begun my reign

And ‘tis my hope to end successfully.

My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,

And till she stoop, she must not be full-gorg’d” (Shr. 4.1. 167-170).

The emphasis Shakespeare made, on the falconry metaphor for taming women depicts men's low

expectations for women. On one hand, the lines are humorously comical, while on the other hand

they might also hurt the other people's conscience.

“Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented

That you shall be my wife, your dowry ‘greed on,

And will you, nill you, I will marry you” (Shr. 2.1. 274-276).

Petruchio added the lines above, implying that since he has already accepted Kate's dowry, she

cannot refuse the wedding, and therefore they must get married. This gives the impression that

women do not have a say or an opinion in critical decisions at that time. Therefore, not only

women have been referred to non-human things, they are treated as one as well.

Women are oftenly cared for because of their financial status that can benefit other people

in life. Hence, most men would marry rich women so that the money conveniences them at some

point. When Hortensio added, “Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please” (Shr. 1.2. 179) and

when Petruchio claimed, “If thou know / One rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife, / As wealth is

burden of my wooing dance […] / I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; / If wealthily, then

happily in Padua” (Shr. 1.2. 63-65, 72-73), it implied that Petruchio will only marry Kate if the

money she brings in is sufficient. He also associates wealth with happiness, so he would marry
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anyone rich, regardless of their appearance. This implies that women are priced. Another

evidence is when Baptista has informed others the following, “That is, not to bestow my

youngest daughter / Before I have a husband for the elder.” (Shr. 1.1. 50-51). Everyone favors

the sweet Bianca over the shrewd Kate and their father, Baptista, is finding a rich man to marry

both his daughters off. So in order for Kate to get married, Baptista conducts a plan in which she

will get married before Bianca. Kate appears inconsequential in this scene because Baptista

requires Kate to marry in order to gain financial status and connections with wealthy people into

the Minola household. Hence, Kate was sold off for money to another man that she refused to

marry, meaning women are being used for money.

During the Renaissance Era, women should all be well-mannered, obedient and gentle.

Bianca fits in with societal expectations, whereas Kate is rebellious and quick-tempered which

led to many dislikes from society. Hortensio gave a harsh comment about Kate asserting:

“Her only fault, and that is faults enough,

Is that she is intolerable curst,

And shrewd and froward, so beyond all measure

That, were my state far worser than it is,

I would not wed her for a mine of gold!” (Shr. 1.2. 85-89)

Hortensio was trying to demonstrate that Kate is disobedient and unbearable to the point where

even if he was poor, he still will not accept her to be his bride even for a mine of gold. By how

the conversation goes from Hortensio to Petruchio, we are informed of people talking behind

Kate’s back about her ill-mannered attitude. Kate is lacking attention and affection not just from

outsiders, but her family as well due to the fact that she behaves differently from her gender role.

We know this when Katherine exclaimed:

“Nay, now I see

She is your treasure, she must have a husband,

I must dance barefoot on her wedding day

And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.

Talk not to me. I will go sit and weep

Till I can find occasion of revenge” (Shr. 2.1. 31-36).

Kate gives us the idea of jealousy towards her sister because she was treated better than her. Kate

is someone that received and treated with the least affection compared to the other family

members just because of her behaviour. Thus, women should act right and they should live up to

society’s expectations to earn the love and affection from other people.

This TTOTS analysis sums up to three main ideas. First is women have little or no rights

where they are described and referred to as property, second idea is that they are expected to be

well behaved at all times, the last idea is women are being used for other people's advantages.

To conclude this essay, TTOTS is a play that challenges and satirize the views of stereotypical

notions of women’s status by identifying the labels given to describe Katherine and Bianca in

society and the dominance Petruchio has over Katherine now once he has married her.

[1042 words]
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Works Cite
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schoolworkhelper.net/ Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays.
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