Paper Title
Did the Shrew Tame You: An Exploration of Sexual Politics in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew
Location
Room 223, DiGiorgio Campus Center (DiGs)
Keywords
sexual politics, gender roles, patriarchy
Start Date
2-4-2016 10:30 AM
End Date
2-4-2016 11:45 AM
Abstract
This paper explores the sexual politics present in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, examining the gender roles that influence the relationship between Katherine and Petruccio. By analyzing Petruccio’s attempts at taming Katherine, in comparison to the ending of the play where she is supposedly tamed, I will emphasize Katherine's abilities to manipulate a patriarchal society’s rule over women. While she seems to demonstrate acquiescing full sovereignty to her husband, my argument will pose that Katherine assumes the role of a proper wife to trick Petruccio, allowing her access to marital dominance. By examining the patriarchal society of the time period, this paper will elucidate the sexual politics dictated by the cultural era in relation to Katherine and Petruccio’s relationship. Rather than supposing that Katherine is tamed under Petruccio’s subterfuge, this paper will conclude that Katherine remains unchanged by patriarchal force, and instead uses manipulation and wiles to exude governance when necessary in their marriage, deceiving a fooled Petruccio.
Included in
Classical Literature and Philology Commons, Other Classics Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Other Theatre and Performance Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Did the Shrew Tame You: An Exploration of Sexual Politics in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew
Room 223, DiGiorgio Campus Center (DiGs)
This paper explores the sexual politics present in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, examining the gender roles that influence the relationship between Katherine and Petruccio. By analyzing Petruccio’s attempts at taming Katherine, in comparison to the ending of the play where she is supposedly tamed, I will emphasize Katherine's abilities to manipulate a patriarchal society’s rule over women. While she seems to demonstrate acquiescing full sovereignty to her husband, my argument will pose that Katherine assumes the role of a proper wife to trick Petruccio, allowing her access to marital dominance. By examining the patriarchal society of the time period, this paper will elucidate the sexual politics dictated by the cultural era in relation to Katherine and Petruccio’s relationship. Rather than supposing that Katherine is tamed under Petruccio’s subterfuge, this paper will conclude that Katherine remains unchanged by patriarchal force, and instead uses manipulation and wiles to exude governance when necessary in their marriage, deceiving a fooled Petruccio.
