ShakespeareS Social Themes In Taming Of The Screw Essays

Shakespeare'S Social Themes In Taming Of The Screw Greg Graziani 03-05-01 English 283 sect. 08 McLaughlin Shakespeares Social Themes in Taming of the Screw Shakespeares Taming of the Screw is widely viewed as a comical play. But are the views and topics that are expressed really intended to be funny or are they more of a serious concern of Shakespeares that women are mistreated? Throughout this paper I will try to explain that the perspective that Shakespeare is showing is one of concern over sexism and the treatment of women. To understand the sexism and its context is to understand when the play was written and the history of the social system at the time. The play was first presented in the late sixteenth century, the role of the women was not much more than that of service. The privileges of women were virtually non-existent in terms of political and personal rights. The chief purpose of women was to provide children and care for the household. Most marriages were pre arranged or won, and initially had no love based relationship. The women were in a sense used and taken advantage of, they were expected to do what the husband said and agree completely with them. In the play Taming of the Screw, Kate represents a strong minded and individual person who shows no sign of calming. Petruchio, Kates suitor, is a strong minded man bent on controlling and taking away Kates sense of individuality. When the two meet for the first time there doesnt seem to be any attraction between the two. This is illustrated in act two scene one. The conversation of the two is filled with bickering and disagreement. Later in the scene Petruchio plainly states that his purpose is to tame Kate. For I am he am born to tame you, Kate, And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate conformable as other household Kates,(Shakespeare 47) This statement alone claims that Kate is to forget her own individuality and to conform to the norms of society and preferred behavior. Petruchios aim is to control Kate and develop her mentality and actions to that which pleases him. These actions for the time are not unusual. It was common practice to display control and dominance over your wife at this time. Is Shakespeare merely poking fun at this practice or is he putting it on display and trying to expose the problems with it? If Shakespeare was to more directly show his concern it could have hurt him both personally and professionally, maybe he was all right with the status quo but would have liked to see it changed. As the play goes on Petruchio continues to try and break down Kate in to the women he wants. Petruchio goes on to publicly humiliate Kate and deprive her. He controls her socially, economically, and physically. She is not free to her own decisions and must at least agree with Petruchio. He goes as far as to deprive her of sleep and food. The battle between the two is underway. Which sex will win is at no point is in favor of Kate. It is her fathers will for her to marry Petruchio and to like it as well. Kate is faced with a dilemma, give in and be under Petruchios control or lead a life that will eventually find her dead. Indeed Petruchios sexism is tearing Kate apart. She refuses to be dominated by her husband and continues to fight Petruchios dominating nature. This continues until the fourth act. Then while on a journey back to Petruchios home there seems to be a change of events. Petruchio makes reference to the sun as the moon, Kate initially disagrees but then breaks down in to telling Petruchio that she believes it is whatever Petruchio says it is. Then God be blessed, it is the blessed sun. But sun it is not when you say it is not, and the moon changes even as your mind. What you will have it named, even that it is. And so it will be for Katherine.(Shakespeare 92) How is it that something that is so obviously in Kates favor turns around and ends up favoring Petruchio.