The Push & Tugs of Social Orders in Shakespearean Plays
The Push & Tugs of Social Orders
Each Shakespearean play read pulls and tugs at certain social norms within their own world. Be it gender, religion, or race there are revolving themes of disorder in all of these texts. In Taming of the Shrew many social norms are being challenged, but the biggest two are that of gender identity and social politics. By refusing to be chased, silent, and obedient Kate mocks the social norm that her sister Bianca seems to follow perfectly (at least in the public view). Kate is considered shrewish because of how willing she is to speak her mind at any given time. Unlike Bianca, Kate does not conceal her true intentions because she seems to always be enraged by the fact that she has to hide emotions. This in turn gives her a shrewish persona because women at the time were to be of little words. A male engaging in this type of behaviour would only undermine his class politics, but a woman speaking out of place challenges her gender role and political class. In fact when Kate has interactions with Hortensio at the beginning of the play it is clear that both of their behaviour is inappropriate but only Kate breaks her gender role because she is not being silent, chased, or obedient. Collectively Kate’s rooted anxiety stems from her overwhelming disassociation with her gender role. As previously stated there are political classes that are challenged as well, but those alone come from the gender crisis Kate produces. This play is about language and power and Kate’s misuse of her language creates a cesspool of anxiety that causes her environment to work against her. Bianca seems to understand the correlation between language and power and uses it to her benefit. She is nowhere near as vocal as Kate in her dislike of the system. Bianca is able to use her language (or lack thereof) to gain the power and freedom she wanted since the beginning. Kate challenges the social order she is set in and gets nowhere with it while Bianca works within
Each Shakespearean play read pulls and tugs at certain social norms within their own world. Be it gender, religion, or race there are revolving themes of disorder in all of these texts. In Taming of the Shrew many social norms are being challenged, but the biggest two are that of gender identity and social politics. By refusing to be chased, silent, and obedient Kate mocks the social norm that her sister Bianca seems to follow perfectly (at least in the public view). Kate is considered shrewish because of how willing she is to speak her mind at any given time. Unlike Bianca, Kate does not conceal her true intentions because she seems to always be enraged by the fact that she has to hide emotions. This in turn gives her a shrewish persona because women at the time were to be of little words. A male engaging in this type of behaviour would only undermine his class politics, but a woman speaking out of place challenges her gender role and political class. In fact when Kate has interactions with Hortensio at the beginning of the play it is clear that both of their behaviour is inappropriate but only Kate breaks her gender role because she is not being silent, chased, or obedient. Collectively Kate’s rooted anxiety stems from her overwhelming disassociation with her gender role. As previously stated there are political classes that are challenged as well, but those alone come from the gender crisis Kate produces. This play is about language and power and Kate’s misuse of her language creates a cesspool of anxiety that causes her environment to work against her. Bianca seems to understand the correlation between language and power and uses it to her benefit. She is nowhere near as vocal as Kate in her dislike of the system. Bianca is able to use her language (or lack thereof) to gain the power and freedom she wanted since the beginning. Kate challenges the social order she is set in and gets nowhere with it while Bianca works within