Inequality In The Taming Of The Shrew

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Shakespearean Inequality The Taming of the Shrew was written by William Shakespeare and published in 1594 to merely focus on the social standings of men and women during the Elizabethan era. More specifically, Shakespeare centralizes the idea of gender inequality and how it has an affect on how men hunt women and how women are meant to be tamed. The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy and tragedy that also has a connection with gender roles and where inequality is acceptable in the play. In the beginning, Christopher Sly, a drunk man, was found unconscious outside an alehouse where the Lord calls him a “monstrous beast” and “swine”. The Lord then dresses him up to play a part of a nobleman which Sly does not seem to believe. In Scene II, at …show more content…
Katherina breaks the gender role that Shakespeare intended the characters to play on. Katherina shows the sign of independence and does not want a husband. However, Shakespeare dehumanizes Katherina after Petruchio marries her, eventually becoming voiceless, and obedient. Petruchio describes her as “my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything,” to where he wants her to what his liking is. Instead of describing her romantically, Petruchio compares her to a house, household items and even to animals. Shakespeare seems to be highlighting the inequality of the relationship where the free man subjugates the woman who is a wild animal, tells her when to eat and sleep. Petruchio wants her to be like a trained animal where she will know when to come and know her “keeper’s call” suggesting that Katherina will be obedient and understand her position towards her “keeper”. Sly and Katherina are great examples of characters that have been manipulated in a patriarchal society. Although Sly is a male, he is easily convinced once he finds out that he has a
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