Taming of the Shrew

Taming of the shrew

The Taming of the shrew was just one of William Shakespeare’s 4 great comedies. Taming of the shrew is based on a king named Baptista who had two daughters named Katherina and Bianca. Both daughters had arranged marriages by there father. Since Katherina was older she had to get married first. Her father chose Petruchio for her to marry. Katherina did not want to get married to Pertuchio, but Katherina did not have a choice. Katherina was very disobedient at the begging of the marriage, but Pertuchio was very determined to tame her. Katherina would not want to do anything that Pertuchio was telling her to do. But soon she found out that if she did everything that he asked her to do then she will get what she wants. This brings me to Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle Female Orations. She talks about how we need men in our lives to do the things that we are incapable of doing. Katherina’s speech in act 5 has similarities and differences regarding Cavendish’s female orations.

Katherina’s speech in act 5 is talking about how we need men in our lives, and how we should appreciate all the things that they do for us. We shouldn’t take them for granite. We should listen to them and do everything that they ask us to do because they do so much for us. Katherina explains this by saying, “And craves no other tribute at the hands but love, fair looks, and true obedience: too little payment for so great debt.” In Margaret Cavendish’s Female Orations she talks about how men do the things that we are incapable of doing. How we have no reason to speak badly of men. All they do is love us and care for us. Margaret says, “they protect us from injuries, defend us from danger, and industrious for our subsistence, and love our persons; they protect us from injuries, defend us from danger, and industrious for our subsistence, and provide for our children.” She also talks about how we should only try to be ourselves. We shouldn’t try and be men. If we try to be men, “in truth, we shall make ourselves like the defects of nature, and be hermaphroditical, neither perfect women, nor perfect men, but corrupt and imperfect creatures.”

There are many similarities between Katherina’s speech in act 5 and Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle Female Orations. Both talk about how our men go on journeys for us to get the things that we need. In Katherina’s speech it says, “And for thy maintenance commits his body to painful labor both by sea and land.” Then in Margaret’s orations she says, “They swim great voyages by sea, travel long journeys by land, to get us rarities and curiosities.” Both talk about how men are there for us to look after us and make sure that nothing happens to us. In Katherina’s speech she says, “To watch the night in storms, the say in cold, whilst thou li’st warm at home, secure and safe.” Then in Margaret’s orations