Throughout the course of society, human rights have been a pivotal standard that has allowed billions of individuals to live with freedom, equality and justice. The civil liberties of a human are a universal moral code that apply to anyone, no matter their gender, societal rank or affluence. However, in the sixteenth century Renaissance England, the patriarchal society controlled and dictated by men ultimately restricted the ideologies, freedoms, and rights of women. In his dramatic comedy The Taming of the Shrew, the renowned playwright, William Shakespeare, reflects many of the conflicts between genders and the specific societal roles that they play. Similarly, in the modern literary criticisms, Civilizing Subordination: Domestic Violence
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In Sid Ray’s literary criticism, Holy Knots: Marriage and Tyranny in the Taming of the Shrew, she critically analyzes the constant power struggle contained in marital relationships and how women are always in a constant state of disarray due to their manipulative husbands. In her criticism Ray articulates that, “Holy Knots alludes to the way in which marriage metaphors imply both union and bondage simultaneously…Shakespeare exploits common marriage bondage metaphors as a means of demonstrating the culture’s unstable social and political order-an order that is conducive to tyranny”(Ray 23). Throughout this quote, the reader can understand that many of the subjugating actions that men performed towards their wives in the play was done for many reasons, however, the central reason for their tyranny was to gain power, wealth and societal rank. Therefore, if a man was not the main figure in the marital relationship then patriarchal society and his male counterparts would view him to be pathetic and feeble. In the late 16th century, status and marriage towards women from wealthy families was highly recognized, and if a man did not have one or the other, then he would not be viewed to be of great importance or worth. In Act V, the peak of Petruchio’s power over …show more content…
We as readers were able to distinguish that the degradation of women and their limited roles in a male-domineered society led to a gender hierarchy, an imbalance of power in marital relationships, and established societal roles that could not be reversed. In contemporary society, both men and women enjoin in equal rights, freedoms and justices. We are able to pursue anything our hearts’ desire and what our minds’ want accomplished. However, without the sufferings and hard work set precedent by our female, English ancestors, we would be living in a vastly different world from the one we live in today. A world where we know no grief and suffering, and how misery and grave prejudices can ultimately build us towards higher destinations and greater accomplishments. Only through sufferings and disadvantages can we as a society transform the prejudices held against into a creative force and guiding light for the
In Sid Ray’s literary criticism, Holy Knots: Marriage and Tyranny in the Taming of the Shrew, she critically analyzes the constant power struggle contained in marital relationships and how women are always in a constant state of disarray due to their manipulative husbands. In her criticism Ray articulates that, “Holy Knots alludes to the way in which marriage metaphors imply both union and bondage simultaneously…Shakespeare exploits common marriage bondage metaphors as a means of demonstrating the culture’s unstable social and political order-an order that is conducive to tyranny”(Ray 23). Throughout this quote, the reader can understand that many of the subjugating actions that men performed towards their wives in the play was done for many reasons, however, the central reason for their tyranny was to gain power, wealth and societal rank. Therefore, if a man was not the main figure in the marital relationship then patriarchal society and his male counterparts would view him to be pathetic and feeble. In the late 16th century, status and marriage towards women from wealthy families was highly recognized, and if a man did not have one or the other, then he would not be viewed to be of great importance or worth. In Act V, the peak of Petruchio’s power over …show more content…
We as readers were able to distinguish that the degradation of women and their limited roles in a male-domineered society led to a gender hierarchy, an imbalance of power in marital relationships, and established societal roles that could not be reversed. In contemporary society, both men and women enjoin in equal rights, freedoms and justices. We are able to pursue anything our hearts’ desire and what our minds’ want accomplished. However, without the sufferings and hard work set precedent by our female, English ancestors, we would be living in a vastly different world from the one we live in today. A world where we know no grief and suffering, and how misery and grave prejudices can ultimately build us towards higher destinations and greater accomplishments. Only through sufferings and disadvantages can we as a society transform the prejudices held against into a creative force and guiding light for the