The Significance of Gender Roles in Shakespeares The Taming of the Shr

Gender roles are undeniably a fundamental topic of critique in literature, particularly since expected gender roles arrive at evolved in recent years. More importantly, the transcendence of these gender expectations indicates the possibility for transformation and increasing liberation in gild. History explores many different stages for the sexes and their respective roles, from conventional anti-feminist sentences in which certain roles were strictly enforced, to more modern beliefs entailing free will and a lack of restrictions. In spite of this progress, there are evermore those who expedite the process while there are others that hinder development from occurring, even when it is necessary. Literary works in particular serve as a showcase for the progression of gender roles, only nonetheless reveal that through time certain elements remain consistent. Two authors who wrote in radically different time periods, William Shakespeare and Lorraine Hansberry, wrote plays that pose a threat to expected and traditional gender roles. The Taming of the termagant (1623) is an example of an earlier work, which involves characters that manage to defeat their expected roles by acting divulge of the ordinary. A shrew, which is literally defined as either a small rodent-like animal or a woman with a harsh and nagging disposition (American Heritage Dictionary 1285), is used in reference to Katherine, the daughter of Baptista, who counters the expectation of women to act submissive by being loud and outspoken. In the end, even though Katherine seems to have submitted herself to societys expectation of women, she is really only conforming in order to benefit her social role, since she realizes that accepting her role in society will be easier than counteri... ...ple are cruel, she still has big dreams of going to Africa with Asagai and becoming a doctor. In their plays, Shakespeare and Hansberry share a common element, which seems to say that some things, su ch as society and its expectations, are timeless. Society sets up expectations that are accepted and preferable to other members of society, and Katherine and Beneatha serve not only to demonstrate this ideology but also to argue against it and draw attention to the perpetual gender expectation of society.Works CitedHartwig, Joan. Horses and Women in The Taming of the Shrew. 45. 4. (1982Autumn) 285-294.Newman, Karen. The Taming of the Shrew A Modern Perspective. 229-238.Shrew. American Heritage Dictionary. 4th ed. 2002.Wilkerson, Margaret B. A Raisin in the Sun Anniversary of an American Classic. 38.2. (1986 Dec) 441-453.