Alli Cressall
Mrs. Dovale
Language Arts 9/7
21 May 2014
Is this play sexist? (Topic 4)
Sexism is defined as putting a certain gender over another. Petruchio shows this towards Kate the entire play. There is not a time when he is not showing sexsim towards his wife. All Petruchio, wanted was money he didn’t care what happened to the other person. Petruchio was looking for money and not for true love. It is the exact opposite in Baptista position. Sexism and love are two very different things. Sexism is putting your self before the other and only thinking of yourself. Petruchio only cares about himself, he wants money and power and doesn’t care who he hurts in the process. He sees it as girls do one thing boys do the other.
“And to conclude we have ‘greed so well together That upon Sunday is the wedding day” (Act 2: scene 1 l 314-315.) Throughout the first scene of act 2 Kate and Petruchio fight about Kate loving him. He only cares about himself he is self entitled. His sexism towards his wife escalates throughout the entire play. Sexism normally isn’t vocal the person doesn’t really point it out that there being sexist they just go with it. Petruchio doesn’t say to Kate “hey um you're wrong because your a girl.” He portrays it through his actions in the scene right after they get married he doesn’t allow her to eat, claiming the food is all burnt and none of its good. Another example of him only thinking of himself. Poor Kate is thinking to herself am I that horrible? Kate isn’t the problem, Petruchio is. He wants her to be something that shes not. He wants her to be calm and a obedient wife. He doesn’t ever take time to think abou...
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...d Kate was hesitant at first with him and she didn’t want anything to do with this man, because she knew that he wanted something that she wasn’t and never was going to be. Eventually poor Kate gave in and let him, not exactly creating and becoming the perfect woman or the image of the perfect woman but giving the satfiscon that he wanted for than anything in the world. She eventually found herself in a situation, where she could either fight him about it or just rule with it she decided that she would just give in and stop arguing about it with him. She wanted him to see what she was worth more than just wanted he wanted her to be. In a way she took it and thrived and showed that not only can she be the good obedient wife but she can be want he wants but with love true love in the picture and kick sexism out the door and not let it get between their relationship.
However, it is the the effects of each of these situations that allow us to evaluate the two as a whole. Although Kat’s emotions go up and down about Patrick nonstop throughout the movie, in the end she is much happier than she was before she met Patrick. Similarly, Katherine ends up stating how submission has “made her heart great”, implying that she is content with the situation, but she does not appear to be truly happy with Petruchio. She is aware that she has no choice in regards to submission, and that her life will be better if she just accepts it. Thus, Katherine’s happiness is superficial as opposed to Kat’s which is real. Also feminism did not exist until the 19th century, so during the time of Shakespeare Katherine and Bianca did not even think of the idea that they could have a choice when it comes to men. Marriages were arranged, and that concept was accepted for many centuries,In fact, Katherine and Bianca are not even considered to be citizens because they
In "Scolding Brides and Bridling Scolds: Taming the Woman's Unruly Member," Lynda Boose explains that the punishment of scolds and shrews during the sixteenth and seventeenth century is not what makes modern day directors try to lessen Kate’s unwillingness by emphasizing a sexual attraction between Petruchio; it is more likely that it is due to the power struggle in today’s heterosexual marriages in general (181). Boose explains that Kate's placement of her hand under Petruchio's boot was part of a ceremonial custom when a bride was going to be offered a share of property by her intended husband, but also a physical representation of the marriage vow to love, honor, and obey (182-183).
In the 1930s and 40s, Adolf Hitler used the Jewish people as a scapegoat on which to blame Germany’s problems. This fear of what the Jewish people had apparently created granted the German people free reign to discriminate and detest. This hatred allowed the Nazi Regime to subsist and thrive. The same is true for The Party in 1984. The Party takes away the opportunity to expand one’s mind and freely use one’s body to one’s own pleasure, essentially taking away the humanity from human beings. In George Orwell’s 1984, The Party uses racism, sexism, and anti-semitism as a way to control the masses and quell rebellion.
In the play The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, Petrucio recognizes, respects and desires Katherine’s strength of character. Petrucio is a clever man who sees beyond facades because he uses them himself. (II, i 46) (II, I 283 - 89) He is stimulated by Katherine’s sharp tongue and harsh actions. He proves this many times throughout the play.
In the beginning, a lot of what we learn about Kate comes from what other people say about her. In Act I, she is only seen briefly and she speaks even less, but our picture of Kate is pretty clear. Shakespeare, sets up a teaching lesson, helping us to see the mistakes of our own judgment. When Baptista announces that Kate must marry before Bianca may take suitors, Gremio describes Kate by saying "She's too rough for me" (1.1.55). Later in the scene, Gremio reiterates his dislike for Kate, claiming she is a "fiend of hell" (88) and offering that "though her father may be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell" (124–126). He finishes by saying that to marry Kate is worse than to "take her dowry with this condition: to be whipped at the high cross every morning" (132–134). Hortensio, too, is quick to add to the situation, calling Kate a devil (66) and claiming that she is not likely to get a husband unless she is "of gentler, milder mold" (60). Tranio, Lucentio's servant, is perhaps the only man in this scene not to talk ugly about Kate, claiming she is either "stark mad or wonderful froward" (69).
The Taming of the Shrew written by William Shakespeare depicts the common roles of men and women in the early seventeenth century. Shakespeare writes of Petruchio and Kate, a male and female who sharply oppose each other. Petruicho must "tame" his wife Kate without breaking her true inner spirit.
In the play male characters, hold most of the power Baptista over his daughter, Petruchio over Katherina, representing the values of patriarchal society. The treatment of the female characters is now something we would see as degrading and sometimes abusive, especially when it comes to Petruchio’s method of ‘taming’. “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, and here she stands. Touch her whoever dare, I’ll bring mine action on the proudest he” (3.2.219-224) Not only is this aggressive, it would be degrading to Kate. This also depicts the concept that the traditional male role will ‘rescue’ the female. In contrast, 10 Things I Hate About You has inverted many of the power roles in the different relationships. A major reversal is evident in the Lucentio– Bianca relationship. Within Taming of the Shrew Bianca exerts no power but in 10 Things Bianca ends up being the one whom ‘saves’ Cameron from Joey. Another major difference is the fact that Kat still holds the power in her relationship with Patrick. The changes that the feminist movement created from the mid-20th century has been reflected largely in this
As the story begins, the narrator's compliance with her role as a submissive woman is easily seen. She states, "John laughs at me, but one expects that in marriage" (Gilman 577). These words clearly illustrate the male's position of power in a marriage t...
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedic, historic play written by William Shakespeare. It features the tale of Katherina. Outspoken & aggressive, her gentle but cunning sister Bianca, and the man that persistently sought to ‘tame’ Kate, Petruchio. The piece is well renowned, as it is a significant part of English literature. It is substantially influential, as the play also assisted in the shaping of gender expectations in modern times. A speech made by the protagonist, Katherina, towards the conclusion of the story is the most popular part. The speech is impactful & affecting – but, it is also highly controversial, for its misogynistic theme & women-degrading message. Although powerful & persuasive, Katherina’s speech is misogynistic. The speech
Baptista is looking for suitors to marry his daughters and views the marriage as a monetary transaction: "After my death the one half of my lands, and in possession twenty thousand crowns." (2.1 122-123). In this quote, Shakespeare is using the characterization of Baptista to demonstrate how women were viewed as nothing more than objects that could be sold. Baptista told this to Petruchio when he asked how much Kate was worth. In addition, Baptista was attempting to appeal to suitors: "Proceed in practise with my younger daughter; she 's apt to learn and thankful for good turns. Signior Petruchio, will you go with us, or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?" (2.1 165-168). Shakespeare uses Baptista to demonstrate how poorly women were viewed. Baptista is practically selling his daughters and attempting to make them more appealing to suitors, so much as offering to bring Kate to Petruchio. Throughout most of the play, Baptista is looking to marry off his daughters. "Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant 's part, and venture madly on a desperate mart." (2.1 345-346). Shakespeare uses Baptista to demonstrate once again the little value women have and how they are viewed as objects. Baptista is acting as a "merchant" when he is selling his
Petruchio achieves his goal through witty persuasion rather than resorting to beating his wife like many a man before him has done. Though Shakespeare does not go as far as some feminists would like him to, Shakespeare does much for the fight for equality of the sexes. Katherine’s as strong, or stronger than any woman in Shakespeare’s plays. The amazing thing is that she achieves this without ulterior motives, such as Lady Macbeth. She is an honest, bright, independent woman.
Petruchio could possibly just be trying to get his woman the best food possible, or in the case of his wedding, the best tailored clothes for Kate. Petruchio brings in a tailor for his wedding, and when the dress doesn’t live up to his expectations, he lets the tailor know (IV.iii.113-121) “O monstrous arrogance!... that thou hast marred her gown.” Petruchio cares so much about getting everything for his wife to be perfect that he does not let one thing fall out of line for his wedding preparations. These things could be taken as sexist acts; however they were just acts... ...
...ironic use of manipulation before and after the wedding, Petruchio is able to tame Kate. Or so he thinks. The only real change is that Kate agrees with him, but she only does this to get her way. Therefore she is manipulating him by pretending that he has been able to tame her. He has not tamed her, because she also utilizes the art of manipulation. Before, Kate’s only defense against patriarchy is to be outspoken; now, she negotiates her own sense of power within patriarchy by using manipulation. Shakespeare’s critic of the patriarchal social structure is therefore just, because not only are women denied the same legal power as men, but their manipulative power is also disregarded and considered a weakness. Therefore women are not to be blamed for utilizing this powerful form of control, because that is what the patriarchal social structure forces them into.
When someone is a female their first thought should not be weak or nurturing, just as when someone is male their first though shouldn’t always be powerful. Unfortunately it has becomes so ingrained in societies mentality that this is the way that things work. The Taming of the Shrew is a past writing piece that expands on a mentality that is modern. The male gender cannot be put into this same constraint. Petruchio is the epitome of what society would describe a male as. He thinks he is in charge and always the superior to women. He expects Katherine to always do what he tells her to do, because he believes that is her duty as his wife. Moreover he should not be expected to do that for her. Furthermore, Bianca is what many would describe as the perfect woman. She is nurturing and she does not speak out against what she is told. When she does speak she always speaks like a lady. She exists merely for decoration in the home and to serve her husband. Katherine is the inconsistency in this stereotype on femininity. Her purpose in the novel originally is to rebel against this biased thought on female gender roles. Katherine is not afraid to speak out against the things that she is told to do. If she disagrees with something she will act on it and she is just as strong as the men in the novel; which is why many of the men actually fear her. Katherine is not submissive and does not believe that the only reason that she exists is to serve a husband. Katherine does not want to be just the damsel in distress, she wants to be in charge. At the end of the novel there is a switch in the personalities of Katherine and Bianca. This alteration provides the purpose of showing that gender is not something that someone can be confined in just because they were born a female. A woman can have many different traits and still be feminine. It is impossible to put femininity in a box because there are no real qualities for what
In Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio, is determined to gain power over Kate. Petruchio love challenges and constantly surrounds himself with challenging people. It appears his perfect match would be a woman who could produce a challenge and sharpen his wits. When he’s informed of Kate’s sharp temper and rude behavior, it excites him. This motivates him to be the shrew-tamer. “I know she is an irksome brawling scold; if that be all, masters, I hear no harm" (1, ii, 160). In Act 2 of the play, Petruchio finally engage in a conversation with Kate, he’s intrigue by behavior he goes by calling her a “wasp” and her response was “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.” He strikes back “My remedy is then to pluck it out” which means all he has to do is remove it.