Petruchio Punishment

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Recommended: Evidence of gender inequality in the taming of the shrew

The punishments Petruchio creates for Katherine’s scolds in The Taming of the Shrew are part of an ideological framework that outlines a patriarchal culture created by tradition and societal gender expectations. More specifically, the economical confinements and societal expectations of women shown in the play demonstrate an ideology of female inferiority, obtained through punishments for any acts of defiance. Throughout the play, Petruchio attempts to punish Katherine when she scolds in hopes of “taming” her, and in the first act, Petruchio describes Katherine as “an irksome brawling scold” (Shakespeare, 61). Petruchio’s acts of inflicting punishment on Katherine for acting like a scold can be related to Adrienne Rich’s essay “Compulsory Heterosexuality …show more content…

In this act, Petruchio usurps the bride’s traditional delayed entrance and refocuses the center of attention to himself, as every eye turns to his outlandish attire. Weddings traditionally have the bride as the focal point being honored on what is often referred to as “her day,” and Petruchio’s actions make Katherine not the object of honor, but of mockery by turning “her day” into “his day.” By inverting wedding traditions in this punishment, Petruchio conveys his unchallenged power and male authority over Katherine. This ideological framework that outlines a patriarchal culture allows Petruchio to act out these punishments in a comic, unchallenged manner. At the end of the wedding ceremony, Petruchio further shames Katherine by psychically carrying Katherine away, mocking gallantry, shouting, “Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Katherine” (Shakespeare, 133). Afterwards, Petruchio denies Katherine her bridal feast as well as rest, making her tired and hungry, in an attempt to break Katherine into accepting her

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