Abstract Through his comedies, William Shakespeare was able to address many taboo subjects in the name of entertainment. His comedies provided him an avenue to express marginalized voices that were sometimes muffled in Renaissance society. This cannot be truer for the voice of women. This paper shows how, in his plays, "The Taming of the Shrew" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Shakespeare gives voice to strong women who refuse to become victims of society. Kate is what we would call a strong-willed child with a mind of her own, with no fear of expressing her opinions. Despite the mistreatment she endures in the play, she emerges a winner for many reasons. The paper shows how, similarly, Hippolyta and Hermia demonstrate independence uncommon to their female counterparts. These women illustrate that true love is its own reward in any age.
From the Paper "Both sisters are playing a game of sorts. Kate is a shrew and cannot be manhandled while Bianca pretends to be the image of feminine sweetness. Bianca is revealed to be the true manipulator because she does not follow the demands of her husband. In the end, we come to appreciate Kate for her genuine character as opposed to Bianca's fraud. Margaret Ranald believes that "Katharina's liberated spirit remains unbroken, but that she has learned the value of realpolitik not only in marriage, but also in the even wider world of sociopolitics" (Ranald 1994). However, when we observe the entire action of the play, we can only surmise that Shakespeare is supporting the role and voice of the independent woman of his age."
Abstract This paper details the differences and similarities between the characters of Katherina and Bianca in this Shakespearean play and shows how their characters change throughout the play. It looks at how Katherina begins as a shrew and how Bianca is shown to be exactly the opposite of Katherina and how, by the end of the play, Katherina and Bianca have completely switched places, with Katherina being the modest, submissive wife and Bianca the shrew.
From the Paper "At the beginning of the play we see Katherina as a beautiful and wealthy woman with a high social status like her father, but she is also condemned as being a curst shrew and a devil, and Gremio clearly shows this when, in Act I Scene 1, he says: "Think"st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell??. In addition, in Act I Scene 2, he says ?Katherine the curst, / A title for a maid of all titles the worst.? "
Abstract This paper discusses Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew". The paper examines the play's patriarchic themes, such as the taming of wild women, a man's domineering character and female subjugation. The paper contends that while many critics feel that the play chronicles the domination process in a marriage where Petruchio, the male lead finally overpowers his wild and aggressive wife, Katherine Minola, closer analysis of the play reveals that this is not exactly true. The paper claims that the play actually deals with the issue of equality of power. The paper states that this play presents a mockery of wife submission norms in English society of 17th century rather than an approval of the same.
From the Paper "Kate who was very wild and rarely ever submitted to anyone was dragged into a marriage against her wishes. One wonders then, how and why did she ever let her father take this action if she was actually so outspoken. We must understand that while she didn't have much choice in the case since it was a time when arranged marriage customs were rife her behavior earned her the right and respect that she deserved. This is very clear when we read the betrothal scenes of both Kate and Bianca and compare them to each other. In Kate's betrothal scene, her father Baptista, makes it absolutely clear that he wants Pet to win her daughter's love before he could hope to have her money while in Bianca's betrothal scene, she is objectified as Baptista feels he could hand her over to anyone he found suitable enough. "
