Patriarchy In The Taming Of The Shrew

Broaden down the aspect of change to connect it to The Taming of the Shrew and Katherine’s character

Open up with description of different rates and types of change, connect to women inequality

Change occurs slowly and at random rates, does not take place overnight

Change to fix social inequalities takes the same course as mentioned above and finally through years of fighting the inequalities become fixed

Takes only few people to commence change in society, but takes long time for the change to be widespread because of forces that oppose the change, connect to refutation-proof

Katherine initiates this change but is silenced by forces of patriarchy

Kate is assertive towards potential husbands, is not afraid to stand up for herself, and does

not take insults from men
Kate's actions are eventually silenced, she cannot rebel once Petruchio takes ahold of her, learns that she has to follow the patriarchal system in order to get things she wants, proves in the end those who rebel will eventually end up back in their place of society
Therefore, although feminist proponents cite Katherine’s assertiveness against men as Shakespearean feminist characterization, Petruchio dehumanizes Katherine to make her change from a shrew to an obedient wife, a transformation which supports the misogynistic culture of 16th century England.
Basic concepts of feminist theory allow readers to gain access to gender roles and inequalities
Propose main question that feminist theory revolves around: “Do the characters conform to traditional (patriarchal) gender roles?” (Tyson 84)
Expand by highlighting specific roles men and women are expected to live up to
Men should be “strong, rational protector[s]” (84)
And women should be “submissive, emotional nurturer[s]” (84)
Goal for feminists is to demolish these expectations and establish equality for everyone
The reaction men have to Katherine’s behavior from early on in the play when she acts like a shrew consists of disgust, shows gender inequalities because women could not act in a disobedient way to men
The negative way in which Petruchio reacts to Kate’s actions show his dislike for her assertiveness, he wants to “tame” her into her social sphere
PETRUCHIO. Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me.
KATE. Asses are made to bear, and so are you.
PETRUCHIO. Women are made to bear, and so are you.
KATE. No such jade as you, if me you mean.
PETRUCHIO. Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee,
For knowing thee to be but young and light.
(Shakespeare II.i. 197-201)
Kate does not care about the social norms and says as she wants, Petruchio counters her but does not have much success because he is silenced by her comebacks, depicts shrew behavior of Kate
Appears in support of feminist aspects since Kate goes against “superior men”
Really anti feminist because she has little luck and does not get anywhere with what she says
Due to her actions here, Kate is tamed by Petruchio and eventually comes around to fit into her social sphere
“Repeatedly Petruchio manipulates the language of social convention and roles for his own purpose-his relationship with Kate. The way he talks about society proves him independent of its actual judgements and ready to reverse its expectations” (Novy 267).
Petruchio goes along with Kate’s games of insults to slowly assert his dominance over her, he allows her to continue her ways but he twists what she says to tame her, Petruchio’s techniques are effective because in the end Kate changes to conform to social norms, depicts the extent to which men would go to suppress women’s right of equality
Petruchio’s taming techniques lead Katherine to change, she accepts her place in society, proves that anyone who goes against the greater order and norms of society will eventually be placed into their correct position, depicts that women have no say in patriarchy
Kate conforms to social norms by the end of the play and learns that the only way she can survive with Petruchio is if she conforms to the norms
“Even such a woman oweth to her husband,/ And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,/ And not obedient to his honest will,/ What is she but a foul contending rebel,/ And graceless traitor to her loving lord?/ I am ashamed that women are so simple/ To offer war where they should kneel for peace” (Shakespeare V.ii.

160-166).

Kate transforms from a shrew to a obedient wife in the end, proves patriarchy always forces people into their correct sphere, comments about the reasons behind women not conforming when men give “love” towards their wives

Petruchio tortures Kate through inhumane practices of denying basic human necessities which practically forces Kate to change

Shows that Kate did not change willingly but was forced into change because of what Petruchio did to her

Kate does not uphold her assertiveness and “dominance” over men at the end of the play, shows anti feminist aspects

“For when Kate literally prostrates herself in her final lines of the play and thus rearranges the sexual space onstage, she reconfigures the iconography of heterosexual relationship not merely for herself but for all of those ‘froward and unable worms’ inscribed within her interpellating discourse” (Boose

176).
The final speech Kate gives does more than just prove herself a victim of patriarchy since it shows that all the women in the play, Bianca and the Widow, are affected by the decisions of men, makes herself look like an anti feminist because she accepts her place in society and advocates other women to follow her steps, depicts patriarchy winning in the end
Connect back to opening strategy that change does not occur quickly, people like Kate attempt to rebel but even though they fail take steps towards equality, with many people following Kate change can occur and social inequalities can disappear