Gender Roles In Taming Of The Shrew

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Taming of the Shrew is a Shakespearean play written approximately in 1879. Just like most of Shakespeare’s plays, Taming of the Shrew is mainly about love and marriage but also it sends out a message how women are expected to be extremely obedient and passive to men. The play offers us different ways on how one can choose and attract there mate. Some of the ways used in the play may still be used today. Just like in our modern culture, people either marry for love or money. In this essay I will be talking about how women are expected to be passive to men.
Back in Shakespearean years, women did not have the same rights and expectations as men. Women were not even allowed to act on stage as men. During the Shakespeare plays, men would play women’s characters in theatre. Acting was considered unfitting for women. Since men were the head of the households, they were allowed to boss women around
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They would put in expensive things like a hundred crowns and gold for whoever wins. One by one would send for their wives. In act 5, scene 2, Lucentio was rejected by Bianca. Biondello was sent to summon Bianca, but she sends words that she’s busy. This was a surprise to everyone because we all expected sweetest Bianca to come immediately when Lucentio sent for her. Again Biondello was sent for Hortensio’s wife, but she also send out a word that the men must have “Some goodly jest in hand”. Now it was Petruchio’s turn, he sends Grumio to command that Katherine come. Everyone was surprised when Katherine comes immediately, after all, she is supposed to be the shrew. After she arrives, her husband’s command, Petruchio again sends her to bring out the other women. She does so, and Petruchio and Katherine put on a show. Petruchio tells Kate to take off her cap, and she does so and stomps on it. Petruchio tells her to tell the other women about the obedience they owe their husbands and lecture them about