Love and Relationships

Love and Relationships

Marriage and happiness. The two most things that people search or seek for in life. In the play, The Taming of the Shrew. It focuses on the romantic relationships between men and women as the develop from initial interest into marriage also it focuses on women being submissive to men. In Shakespeare's, The Taming of the Shrew, by learning to be submissive to Petruchio, Katherine also learns to be happy.

In the early 1600's, when Shakespeare wrote this play. Most women were trained to become mothers and house wives. Women had no say in politics, legal issues, government, or anything else men felt women should not be involved in. Women had no right to own a business or to hold any of the property once married. Also women could not get a divorce. If a women got a divorce, she would not own a thing, and will be shamed upon by society ("Women Leaders and Activists").

In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare main character Katherine is portrayed as a short tongued, quick tempered, and violent, especially against anyone who tries to marry her. She is also intelligent, and very independent. Which in that time, it was very intimidating to be around a women who had so much pride, and didn't really need a man, and who was also difficult. Women were suppose to be sweet and somewhat bow down to men every needs. But not in Katherine case. She was unhappy, and did not want anybody to control her. She was very wild, and needed somebody to tame her. In Shakespeare's time. People did not marry each other for love, but for their statuses in society. They learned how to love each other over time. Rich people married rich people, and poor people married poor people.

In the play, The Taming of the shrew. Katherine's sister Bianca has admirers that want to marry her, but her father would not let her marry. Until her sister Katherine is betrothed. Bianca's suitors persuade the fortune seeker Petruchio to trick Katherine in to marrying him. Petruchio is uncaring, greedy for money, and who treats marriage as an act of domestication. In the beginning, Petruchio marries Kate (Katherine) for her money, and brings her to his country house. He beats Katherine in to being submissive. He does not give her food or water, or even makes her sleep. She does not get new clothes, and she still is not submissive, and still carries on her pride. But one day when Katherine agrees with Petruchio about the moon ("Taming of the Shrew") . She represents that she is submissive, and that he has total control over her. The ridiculous Outfit he wears to the wedding, symbolizes his control over her, Simply by wearing the costume he is able to humiliate her. Even though she is tamed, and is submissive to Petruchio, has she found happiness?

What is happiness, and where does happiness comes from? The definition for happiness is:

" The quality or state of being happy; good fortune, pleasure; contentment; joy."

If money doesn't buy happiness, what does? In Kates's situation when she learns to be submissive to her husband she finds happiness (Happiness). These are her last words of submission:

"Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee. . .

Such duty as the subject owes the prince,

Even such a woman oweth to her husband,

And when she is forward, peevish, sullen, sour,

And not obedient to his honest will,

What is she but a foul contending rebel,

And graceless traitor to her loving lord?

I am ashamed that women are so simple

To offer war where they should kneel for peace,

Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway

When they are bound to serve, love, and obey." (Act V Scene II)

In our society today women is portrayed equally to men. They have jobs that mostly men only had. We are also more independent, and intelligent. But do not get