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Summary themes in the taming of the shrew
themes in the taming of the shrew
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The Taming of The ShrewThemes
Gender and Misogyny
Act 1, Scene 2
‘I can, Petruchio, help thee to a wife
With wealth enough, and young and beauteous,
Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman.
Her only fault, and that is faults enough,
Is that she is intolerable curst,
And shrewd and forward, so beyond all measure
That, were my state far worser than it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of gold.’
This quote is when Hortensio tells Petruchio that he can help him to find a wife that is rich, young
and beautiful, yet her only flaw is her scolding tongue. This is an example of misogyny as it shows
how women were expected to appear and as soon as those expectations are broken, women are
described as ‘shrews’ and ‘witches.’
In this scene, Petruchio and Hortensio discuss their needs and wants for a wife. They decide to work
together for Petruchio to marry a rich woman and Hortensio win the heart of Bianca.
Act 2, Scene 1
‘Nay, now I see
She [Bianca] is your [Baptista's] treasure, she must have a husband,
I must dance barefoot on her wedding day
And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.
Talk not to me. I will go sit and weep
Till I can find occasion of revenge.’
This quote is Katherine showing her hate towards how her father favours her sister, this quote is an
example of misogyny as it shows how as a man, he has expectations of women and Baptista’s
favourite daughter is only Bianca because she follows these expectations. In this scene Petruchio and
Katherine meet, Hortensio is disguised as Litio, Lucentio disguised as Cambio, Tranio pretending to
be Lucentio and Biondello as his servant. This scene leads on to the theme of deception within the
play as all the men are trying to disguise themselves to woo Bianca.
Act 3, Scene 2
‘No shame but mine. I must, forsooth, be forced
To give my hand, opposed against my heart,
Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,
Who wooed in haste and means to wed at leisure.’
This quote spoken by Katherine follows another example of misogyny because of stereotypes. It
shows how Baptista is prepared to marry her off to anyone that wants her. It also shows her dislike
, to being embarrassed as she is disappointed and upset by Petruchio being late to the wedding, as
she is panicking that Petruchio woos women only to leave them at the alter. In this scene Petruchio
and Katherine get married, Lucentio and Tranio discuss how to woo Bianca and Petruchio takes
Katherine back to his home in haste and doesn’t allow her to have an after party.
Act 4, Scene 1
‘Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And ‘tis my hope to end successfully.
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,
And, till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged,
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,
To make her come and know her keeper's call.’
In this scene Petruchio begins his way of ‘taming’ Katherine by embarrassing her at the wedding,
denying her sleep and denying her food, whilst also contradicting every single thing she says. This
quote is a direct reference to falconry as Petruchio goes about taming Katherine the same as a
Falcon is trained.
Act 4, Scene 2
Tranio: ‘Faith, he is gone unto the taming school.’
Bianca: ‘The taming school? What, is there such a place?’
Tranio: ‘Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master,
That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long
To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.’
This exchange of words between Bianca and Tranio describe a ‘taming school’ which would have
been common in this shakespearean era, as unruly women didn’t fit within society. This describes
Petruchio going to a similar school which could emphasise his suggestions to falconry.
Act 4, Scene 3
‘It shall be what o'clock I say it is.’
This quote is another example of Petruchio using misogynistic tendencies to tame Katherine by
disagreeing with her even when she is correct.
Act 4, Scene 5
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