Taming Of The Shrew Research Paper

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In the play, The Taming of the Shrew, by Shakespeare, men use language to strip women of their power. To take their power away, they compare women to nature. Men also treat women as if they were the opposite of men, by calling them froward, the opposite of forward, a word commonly used to describe men. Finally, men take power away from women by expecting women to obey their husbands' every word. The ideal woman, from the perspective of a man, is an educated servant with good looks, and is their puppet. When women are being described as pretty, they are compared to delicate, and beautiful plants, and when they are acting shrewish, they are compared to animals who are feisty, yet nonetheless controlled by men. After she is tamed, Katherina gives…show more content…
Men treat women like they are the opposite of men, and by doing this make them powerless. For example, Bianca and the widow refuse to come when their husbands call for them, and are finally fetched by Katherina on Petruchio's orders. Petruchio says, “See where she [Katherina] comes and brings your froward wives” (V, 2, 119). Since they are called froward for making there own choices, while their husbands are supposed to have control over everything, it is clear that men believe women don't deserve any power, or responsibility. Men believe that they are the opposite of women, because they can fight, while women are weak, and only strong with their words. After Katherina is turned into Petruchio's puppet, she says men do “painful labour both by sea and land, To watch the night in storms, the day in cold, Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe ... Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, Unapt to toil and trouble in the world” (V, 2, 149-167). Katherina is saying that women shouldn't disagree with their husbands, because they fight in wars and endure hardships, while women just stay at home. But, women haven't been given the chance learn to fight, because men believe they shouldn't have power since they are froward if they do want power. Since women wanting power are called froward, and women don't want to be thought of as shrews, their only other option is to be completely loyal to their husband, and obey him no matter what. This is how women are tricked into being puppets for their

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