Taming of the Shrew

The play Taming of The Shrew is comedy written by William Shakespeare. It is about a woman named Katharina who is difficult, holds a grudge towards the world and especially hold a grudge towards men. She has a sister named Bianca who is beautiful and well mannered and sought out by man suitors. There father Bishop decides that in order for Bianca to marry Katharina must be married off first. In this play Shakespeare makes it a point to show that the characters especially the men have a patriarchal view of the world. We are shown this through out the text.

In the beginning of the play when Lucentio and his servant Tranio are in Padua for Lucentio’s education Baptista shows up with his two daughters. This is when he announces to Bianca’s suitors that in order for her to be married Katharina must marry first. Baptista states “That is, not to bestow my youngest daughter before I have a husband for the elder. If either of you both love Katharina, because I know you well and love you well, Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure.” This is the first sign that men are in charge of there women and they are automatically the head of the household. We now see that Katharina is not allowed to choose her mate that they will find one for her and she has no say in who she will marry. Her father a man is in charge of her life.

As the play continues a suitor has come forth to tame Katharina and marry her, his name is Petruchio. He is only interested in acquiring wealth from a marriage. He doesn’t care that she is known as a horrid women with a poisonous tongue his mind is purely on wealth. Therefore he meets Katharina’s father Baptista and they begin to make a deal about him marrying his infamous daughter. Once again we are shown how these men are deciding the futures of these women without any input from them. Once Peturchio meets Katharina they quarrel about whether she will marry him. Her tongue is sharp and so is his. She ends up striking him and Petruchio replies with “I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again.” Shakespeare is showing us that in his world women are controlled by men and if they get out of line they pay for it. All the men in Katharina’s life are controlling her life and she is attuned to it. Katharina states about her forced marriage “No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced to give my hand opposed against my heart.” Another example of how men pull the puppet strings in a woman’s life.

Inevitably Petruchio and Katharina marry and he completely humiliates her at there wedding ceremony. Thus begins the actual taming of the shrew. He uses many tactics to tame her to his liking. He denies her food and a bed as well as chooses her clothing. All signs of male domination. He controls absolutely every aspect of her life it is nothing short of patriarchal.