Marriage in Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew Essay -- essays rese

Marriage is presented in Shakespeare?s play The Taming of the Shrew, in a complex manner allowing readers to view the play literally as a brutal taming or ironically as a subversive manifesto. Yet, Shakespeare intends to present marriage to be full of mutual love where neither male nor female dominate but compliment each other thriving together in a loved filled relationship. The portrayal of a deep understanding, which exists in an analogical relationship and the gentle transformation, which occurs in marriage, clearly outlines marriage in the play to be a celebration of a mutual love relationship within the patriarchal foundations of society. Initially, Shakespeare highlights the importance of transformation in a relationship in order for it to be of mutual love where both the male and female transform each other for the better. In the play, Petruchio takes this role but he doesn?t brutally tame Katherina, but rather tenderly teaches her in order to liberate her from her shrewish mindset. Petruchio begins teaching Katherina immediately on her wedding day where he proudly walks in late in strange, informal apparel. When questioned he replies, ?To me she?s married, not unto my clothes (3.2)? symbolizing to Kate and the audience of how appearances can be deceptive and that he truly loves her underneath and bears no brutal intentions of abusing her. Despite Petruchio living in a patriarchal society he never abuses his power and even as he starves his wife he states, twere better that both of us did starve (4.1).? This line spoken by Petruchio distinctly outlines that the play is not a celebration of patriarchal power as ?both ? symbolizes that both must suffer in order for a successful transformation to occur. Petruchio?s ideolo... ...es the mutual understanding between her and Petruchio and emphasizes the reciprocity of duty in a marriage of mutual love and understanding. Thus, Shakespeare outlines how a unique understanding within the relationship guarantees the play to be one showing both genders to love and compliment one another?s virtues. In conclusion, Shakespeare?s play The Taming of the Shrew distinctly portrays marriage to be full of mutual love and understanding where neither gender dominates. Hence, views of masculine brutality and feminine subversion are dislodged by the analogical love-filled relationship between both genders. The relationship between Katherina and Petruchio is exactly this, where mutual love is not only presented, but rather celebrated by Shakespeare who declares that such a successful marriage can exist anywhere ? even in the patriarchal framework at the time.