Taming
Comedy is a vehicle for satire, and satire is a means by which to convey social commentary. In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare uses the medium of comedy to transmit potent yet socially subversive ideas related to gender roles and norms. Cloaked in the ascription to patriarchy, The Taming of the Shrew instead describes the ridiculousness of gender inequity. Shakespeare's commitment to farce and satire are evident in the diction and characterization used throughout Taming of the Shrew. The play is constructed to evoke the gentlest nudge of discomfort in the audience, which in Shakespeare's time, would not have questioned with any sincerity the fundamental values of patriarchy and the social subjugation of women. Yet given the shrew was a trope that would have been recognizable to Elizabethan audiences, women and men had already grown uncomfortable with their proscribed roles. In order to evoke any laughter, the euphemism of the shrew to refer to a rebellious or incorrigible female would have been commonplace. Women were continually striving to stretch their boundaries, and could only do so from within the confines of the domestic sphere. The shrew is by definition a woman who persistently annoys, or nags, like the rodent the word connotes. In this case, the shrew nags in order to assert her dominance. The fact that Shakespeare has his shrew ultimately capitulate into patriarchal submission proves that the play is a satire. After all, Shakespeare relies on the frame narrative to suggest the topsy-turvy nature of the world of Katherine and Petrucio. Plays like Taming of the Shrew provided a cathartic release, respite from conformity, as well as insight into the means by which to challenge patriarchy.
There is no coincidence that Shakespeare chose the word shrew as a euphemism for the nagging wife. A shrew is similar to the word "shrewd," meaning cunning and connoting intelligence. In fact, Tranio, Lucentio's servant, remarks that Katherine is "curst and shrewd," and that she will "not be annoy'd with suitors," (Act I, scene i). The fact of Katherine's shrewdness, and not just her shrew-ness, is a prevalent theme of Taming of the Shrew. Katherine is "annoyed with suitors" because they appear to her as bumbling idiots. She is depicted immediately as being far more intelligent than Bianca, her sister who has beauty but perhaps not brains. As early as Act I, scene I, Bianca is depicted as being in need of an education, whereas Katherine most certainly is not. Katherine's rejection of the men is related to her rejection of their rank stupidity, and her knowledge that she is far superior to them in intelligence. Later, Katherine's superiority is subtly alluded to when Hortensio discusses Katherine with Petruchio. "Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee / And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife? / Thou'ldst thank me but a little for my counsel," (Act I, scene ii). Hortensio is surely intimidated by Katherine because of her intelligence, her "shrewdness," and her cunning. These are qualities that threaten patriarchy and the presumed intellectual, social, and political superiority of men.
Education is a primary means by which females gain access to social, cultural, and financial capital. This was as true in Shakespeare's society as it ever was, and in fact, the theme of education is significant in Taming of the Shrew. As Hutcheon points out, "The Taming of the Shrew is a text deeply invested in the idea of education -- scenes of pedagogy fill the play, from Katherine's attack on the music teacher to Bianca and Lucentio's love lessons to Petruchio's taming of Katherine." Education is a symbol, and it is also a function. As a symbol, education represents power and particularly self-empowerment. Katherine is immediately...
Ii., 164). This could be taken literally and superficially as a direct commentary on the place of women in marriage and in society, or it could be that Katherine is simply going along wt things for now, either as a part of a plan with Petrcuhio (the couple wins quite a lot of money for her obedience), of for her own motives. Like Sly, she sees no reason to disturb
Taming of the shrew is one of the most memorable and prominent Shakespearean comedies. It revolves around patriarchic themes such as taming of wild woman, a man's domineering character, female subjugation etc. But while many critics feel that the play chronicles the domination process in a marriage where Petruchio, the male lead finally overpowers his wild and aggressive wife, Katherine Minola, closer analysis of the play reveals that this is
" (Act II, Scene I, Lines 339-340). He tells them: "Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both That can assure my daughter greatest dower Shall have my Bianca's love." (Act II, Scene I, Lines 356-358) Gremmie and Tranio (Lucentio) proclaim their wealth and Gremmie is "…out-vied." (Act II, Scene I, Line 398). Baptist accepts Tranio's (Lucenio's) offer provided his father, Vincentio, can assure that if he dies before his father Bianca
Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare. Specifically, it will show how the play demonstrates the comedic aspect of thematic concern with love and beauty. In Shakespearean Comedy, a shallow, often narcissistic type of love at the start is not only grounded too heavily in "beauty" of the conventional sort, but also leads to a mistaken notion of what beauty really is. LOVE AND BEAUTY IN "TAMING OF THE SHREW" Taming
Pretending to do her will in everything and to seek only her absolute contentment, Petruchio exercises Kate's patience by letting her famish and by depriving her of sleep, under the pretense that the food is not good enough for her and the bed not well made. He then calls the tailor over, offering her beautiful and costly attires with which he again finds fault and consequently refuses to buy
In Shakespeare, Bianca puts on a perfect performance of gentility and submissiveness -- the perfect daughter, until she is married. The audience sees her abused by her sister; in a way Petruccio will later abuse Katherine. "Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, / to make a bondmaid and a slave of me;/That I disdain: but for these other gawds, / Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off
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