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By Emily Bevins
If there is any piece of literature that modern feminists should blindly hate, it is probably William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” The main character Katherine Minola begins the play as a headstrong, quick-witted woman who knows her worth in society, even if society prefers her obedient, soft-spoken younger sister Bianca. By all accounts, Bianca is the pinnacle of Elizabethan womanhood, and a great number of men seek her out for her docile traits. Katherine, on the other hand, is sought after only by Petruchio. He’s arrogant, foul-mouthed, and can turn any of Katherine’s insults into a sexual innuendo. He is the sole catalyst for the devolution of Katherine’s character. He starves her and deprives her of sleep all while constantly reaffirming his love for her (truly the ideal husband). By the end of the play, Katherine, once willing to verbally spar with anyone at the drop of a hat, is reduced to a housewife more obedient and loyal than a golden retriever.
And this is supposed to be a comedy.
And I wholeheartedly believe it is.
The entire play is one of the most artful deliveries of satire in the English language. It never attacks or satirizes the woman for her shrewish behavior; it attacks AND satirizes the male attitudes towards her.
The clearest example of this is the juxtaposition between the wacky shenanigans of Bianca’s suitors and Katherine’s abuse following her wedding. One scene depicts some quirky men in disguises trying to woo the hottest girl in town. Then, it immediately flashes over to the servants refusing Katherine food...and a bed...and really anything vital to life. The scenes flash back and forth between the two groups, and it’s enough to give even the most casual viewer whiplash.
The male interactions further escalate the satire. Petruchio is glorified by every man after successfully “tames” Katherine. Katherine herself further praises Petruchio. Her final monologue is essentially a call-to-inaction on behalf of every Elizabethan wife. In the speech, she goes as far as chastise women for thinking that they have strength. The flagrant change in personality is jarring. This was the same women who when meeting Petruchio said that he was so ugly that his face would break a mirror, and now she’s practically kissing the ground he walks on.
This play is the perfect way to offer social commentary on marriage and female rights without ever calling out anyone. The culture of the 1600s would have been hostile to outright criticism of established social hierarchies. Thus, the Taming of the Shrew, with its overt overtones praising male dominance but covert undertones of abuse and inequality, allows its discerning watchers to contemplate the dynamics of marriage and reevaluate the treatment of women through the fictional treatment of Katherine. Shakespeare was challenging the audience's expectations of how a woman is supposed to behave.
On its face, the “Taming of the Shrew” is misogyny on steroids. If you don’t read it with the utmost scrutiny, then all you’ll see is a half-baked comedic horror. Most people don’t care enough about Shakespeare to piece everything together. For this reason, modern feminists despise it. They see how Petruchio treats Katherine, and they don’t look any further. They don’t understand that Petruchio is never once framed as the good guy. None of the men in the play are the “good guys.” They are over aggerated chauvinists. Petruchio abuses Katherine into subornation. Katherine’s father Baptista compares his daughters to merchandise for him to sell. All three of Bianca’s suitors treat her as a prize to be won. There is no man that is written to garner respect. That was true 400 years ago, and it's true today.
The Bard knew what he was doing with this one. The play has wit, heart, and (dare I say it) romance. All the proper elements are there; it checks all the boxes of a good comedy. If people are ever willing to give it the proper attention that it deserves, then it would be as revered as some of Shakespeare’s other social commentaries. Until then though, I’ll fight for “Taming of the Shrew.”
Emily Bevins is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2024. She is studying political science, English, and history at the University of Louisville.