i have to write an essay on the role of women in shakespeares taming of the shrew.

Role of Women in The Taming of the Shrew

“The Taming of the Shrew” is a great example of Shakespear’s use of women. Shakespeare indeed does transcend the stereotypes of his own time.

In Shakespeare’s, “The Taming of the Shrew” the relationship between the sisters Katherine and Bianca appears to be strained with rampant jealousy. Both daughters fight for the attention of their father. In twisted parallel roles, they take turns being demure and hag-like. Father of the two, Baptista Minola, fusses with potential suitors for young Bianca and will not let them come calling until his elder, ill-tempered daughter Katherine is married. The reader is to assume that meek, mild-mannered, delicate Bianca is wasting away while her much older, aging, brutish sister torments the family with her foul behaviour. Katherine seems to hold resentment toward Bianca. Her father favors Bianca over Katherine and keeps them away from each others’ torment. When gentlemen come calling, Bianca cowers behind her father and Katherine speaks up for herself. “I pray you sir, is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates?” (1.1.57-58) Bianca and Katherine dislike each other feverishly. Katherine torments Bianca with words and physical harm. She binds her hands, pulls her hair then brings her forth to her father and the gentlemen callers. Bianca denies liking any of the visitors and portrays herself an innocent that merely wants to learn and obey her elders. She says, “Sister, content you in my discontent to your pleasure humbly I subscribe. My books and instruments shall be my company, on them to look and practise by myself.” (1.1.80-84) Because Katherine speaks freely and asserts herself she is named “shrewish.” When Hortensio describes her to Petruccio, he spews out that she is “renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue.” ( 1.2.96) He gilds the lily further by clearly telling of her fair fortune if a suitable man comes courting and wins her hand in marriage. Petruccio sees great money opportunities and rushes onwards in grand dress to court the gracious “Kate.” When he first begins his ritual of winning the family and Katherine to his love, he is seeking his fortune in her dowry. The mention of her being at all undesirable does not worry him at all. He speaks of “One rich enough to be Petruccio’s wife, as wealth is burden of my wooing dance be she as foul as was Florentius’ love, as old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd as Socrates’ Xanthippe or a worse, she moves me not or not removes at least affection’s edge in me, were she as rough as are the swelling Adriatic Seas.” (1.2.65-71) Petruccio comes calling for the older sister, and Bianca in turn sneaks about with Lucentio who is dressed in scholars clothing. They pretend to be working on Latin and fool her father with disguises and books while romancing the entire time. Katherine is honest in her words and deeds. She does not wish to be teased or tormented and flees from Petruccio’s twisted words. Kate and Bianca trade roles at this time and the dainty, controlled sister is Kate. The bolder, out-spoken Bianca persuades Lucentio in the courtyard of the Minola home. At the Sunday wedding gathering of Petruccio and Katherine, the groom grabs the reins of control and demands that he and his bride leave the festivities before they have begun. He offers Bianca and Lucentio the bedroom and party that they must leave behind. This symbolizes the transfer of attitude in the two sisters. Kate has to follow her new husband out of the home and leaves Bianca free roam over the wedding party.

When the sisters are brought together again, it is at the wedding party of Bianca and Lucentio as well as the Widow and Hortensio. Katherine is called a “shrew” yet again by the Widow and Bianca flirts openly with Petruccio. The three new brides leave the dining table and make for the sitting room with the other women. The three men are left to discussion and after dinner music. Petruccio offers a wager against the thought that the wives in turn should come to their husbands when called. The Widow and Bianca are foul and refuse to come seeking their husbands and throw out the servant both times. When Katherine is called to come to her husband she does so with grace and quiet obedience. She is then asked to bring forth the two disobedient wives.

During this entire play the label of “shrew” is misplaced with dear Kate and should be rightfully placed in the lap of Bianca. Kate brings out the two women and scolds them while maintaining her own dignity and elegant grace. She shows them that indeed her husband got the better end of the marriage contract. At this Petruccio kisses his Kate in front of everyone and they leave the gaping mouths of the crowd.

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The courthouse steadfastly refuses to tell me how long the statute of limitations is for filing a small claim in IA. They say that constitutes giving legal advice and I have to consult an attorney, or research it myself. The IA Code is at least 50 volumes, with many of the key terms in Latin. I don’t have the time to try and navigate through acres of numbers, words, and symbols. Research? They have to do research because the law could’ve changed within the last 30 seconds. So, attorneys here charge $250.00/hr for research, and have a four hour minimum. Won’t one of you lawyers out there please just tell me? I promise not to tell the Bar Association about your transgression. Pleeeeease?

I am a sophmore in high school taking latin, and I have a very keen interest in learning languages and in languages in general. I am doing very well in latin, but I wish to learn Portuguese and Italian before I die lol. Maybe even Spanish and Dutch. I am also fluent in Urdu (Pakistani language) and Hindi (because it is so similar to Urdu). So anyone can give me any tips or approximates or just any information? Thanx

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We all know the meaning for abbreviation…
“a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole.”
Then why the word abbreviation itself is too long?
This is the answer! Abbreviation, in itself, is not an abbreviation! (abbr. is the abbreviation for abbreviation I think!) , so obviously it is not going to be small, and concise, but more of a broad word. Obviously, many words in the English language derive from Latin words, or are similar to Latin words: thus, the long word “abbreviation” starts from the short word ‘brevis’ meaning ‘brief’.
Well! Any funny answers?
Star and rate if you like!
Disclaimer: 0% serious and 100% fun! hehe

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