In Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, women are shown to be objectified and subservient to men, conforming to the accepted gender roles that are expected of them. Patriarchal views of femininity support the authority of men in society, as well as subjugation and subordination of women. Yet through the story Shakespeare subtly presents a relationship which is built upon trust, involving two intelligent characters who come to appreciate one another. Which can be supported by the view of later feminists, who agree that it is not necessarily individual men who oppress women, but the underlying prejudice of a patriarchal society.
Though the play is introduced depicting a strong-willed, bold female character, this is ultimately undermined by the finale, in which Kate seemingly submits to the role of the domesticated wife, “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,” in doing so, going against the values she had previously held. Petruchio reforms Kate, in doing so supposedly destroying her spirit. The notion of’taming’ her is revealed to be that Kate must live to please her husband (even if she does not love him).
Male superiority wins out by the end of the play, and though it is not wrong for Kate to submit, the means by which this is achieved strongly endorse the patriarchal view that by which women are inferior to men. Petruchio “plays the role of a bully… he subjects her to mental anguish… and to physical abuse ” Despite having previously valued her independence, Kate comes around to the idea that male dominance is the natural way of things, succumbing to the female stereotype of an obedient wife.
It is through this that she submits to the patriarchal society, a “male-dominated power structure throughout organized society and in individual relationships “. 1 OF 3 When Petruchio is first told of the arrangement, he is primarily interested in the wealth of Kate’s family, viewing his wife as a means of economic advancement as opposed to a person; whilst Kate’s father disregards her own feelings and opinions on the matter – denying her a voice in her own future. Regardless of how Kate is portrayed at the play’s beginning, it is through her ‘taming’ that Shakespeare acquiesces to traditional patriarchal beliefs.
The use of language throughout the play is constantly derogatory towards women, supporting the patriarchal view of femininity being subsidiary. Upon first glance of Bianca, Lucentio remarks of how “But in the other’s silence do I see, Maid’s mild behavior and sobriety. Peace, Tranio. ” His reasoning of attraction to her is reduced to her silence and obedience – an ideal wife to him. Shakespeare also uses language as a device in substitution for physical violence, as a display of power and hierarchy.
Upon their first meeting, Kate openly displays her discontent and anger with Petruchio, yet she is constantly undermined by his sexual innuendoes, creating imagery of “my tongue in your tail. ” The exchange extends the theme of domestication, as Kate is described as a wild animal that he will tame. The use of language here conveys how women were objectified and sexualized, disparaging of her sex as Petruchio reduces her to a joke her voice being taken away in regards to the marriage, in accordance with the view “it is the unassimilated elements of farce that continue to depersonalize Kate.
Petruchio’s comments, referring to Kate as his “goods”, whether in jest or not, would have reflected the current situation for many women in Elizabethan England; regardless of how their husband felt, or viewed them; women had no individual legal rights once they were married. Another example being his referral to her as “wench”, the archaic meaning being a ‘servant’ or ‘prostitute’; showing how females in this patriarchal ty were regarded with little respect.
In contrast with the above statement, an alternative interpretation is that Shakespeare creates a resilient female protagonist, who subtly society manages to keep her independence and defy the patriarchal standards set for females of this time. Although ‘wild’ in her behaviour, Kate is justified through her anger and resentment at her position, as well as the obvious favouritism of Bianca shown by Baptista.
With the nickname of ‘shrew’, she has no suitors for marriage, causing her to be miserable, shown when Hortensio prays “From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us! in reference to her. The only way in which Kate could hope to have a voice was through the status of her husband. Women of the Elizabethan era who remained single were considered to be of a much lower status, and in some cases were thought to be witches. In marrying Petruchio, Kate can hold onto her individuality, whilst succumbing to the gender roles of society at the same time. The feminist movement did not exist much later on, so though not necessarily feminist, Kate still skillfully defies oppression.
As Jonathan Dollimore writes, “Feminist criticism need not restrict itself to privileging the woman’s part or special pleading on behalf of female characters. It can be equally well served by making a text reveal the conditions in which a particular ideology of femininity functions and by both revealing and subverting the hold which such an ideology has for both readers female and male”. Through her character, Shakespeare addresses the issue of culture, and examines the accepted standards regarding a patriarchal view of femininity.
