Clothing In The Taming Of The Shrew

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In William Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare displays a wide array of clothing. Some clothing helps to distinguish characters, assuming actors played multiple parts, but clothing also serves to represent multiple themes. Transformation, social class, and power are all themes that are supported by the use of clothing. The first time readers see clothing serving as a symbol is when the Lord orders his men to dress Sly up as a rich man to trick him. The induction scene shows readers that clothes will be important when it comes to transformation. The transformation presented in the induction is from poor, drunk man, into a supposed rich and mighty lord. This same induction scene also provides readers the chance to see …show more content…
Prior to this scene, readers see Petruchio wearing nice clothes, and they were most likely expensive at that; however, Petruchio shows up to the wedding in shambles. Tranio states, after seeing Petruchio, “Not so well appareled/As I wish you were” (3.2.89-90). Petruchio, a few moments after hearing this, responds, “To me she’s married, not onto my clothes” (3.2.117). This famous quotation helps to show readers that although Petruchio doesn’t look rich and powerful, he still is Kate’s husband and the tamer of the shrew.
While Petruchio’s famous quotation serves as a sign that his clothes are not who he is, it also allows readers to see the power that clothing has throughout The Taming of the Shrew. Clothing serves the role of power by having it physically represent a man’s wealth, which in the time, the wealthier, the more powerful. When Petruchio has the tailor come to his house to make an outfit for Kate, he makes the most splendid of outfits. Presumably, this outfit would’ve shown the citizens of Padua just how rich and powerful Kate’s husband is, however, Petruchio decides that in order to tame Kate, she must not have nice clothing. This scene shows readers that Kate has had nice clothes, which is why she expects to get this gown, but Petruchio is not allowing her fine …show more content…
Literally, power is how influential or strong a person is, but what about clothing? Can clothes be powerful? Before Kate gives her famous monologue, Petruchio orders her to throw her cap onto the ground. Petruchio states “that cap becomes you not” (5.2.121), which shows that her clothing doesn’t make her into the woman that she is. This powerful example of what clothing can do shows readers that yes, clothing can have power.
By Kate throwing her cap onto the ground as commanded, she sets an example to other wives, for “Thy husband is the lord, the life, the keeper/Thy head, the sovereign” (5.2.146-147). Clothing is a symbol of change, social class, and power. Throughout The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare develops these thematic topics with the help of clothing.Whether it’s portraying the connotation of a poor drunk, or the status of lordship, clothes serve as a support for the thematic topics presented in The Taming of the
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