Exploring Sexuality in Taming of the Shrew :: Taming Shrew Essays

Exploring Sexuality in Taming of the Shrew Human knowledgeableity underlies many of the happenings of Taming of the Shrew. It affects the conflicts, theme, and resolution of the play. It becomes evident throughout the play that sexual behavior denotes whether a character is thought of as good or evil (not necessarily good evil as take to bet in conventional terms, but rather as a nice character versus a waspish or mean character). In the beginning of the play, there is an obvious conflict between Kate and her sister, Bianca. This conflict stems from the fact that their scram favors Bianca, as well as the fact that Bianca has many suitors, while Kate has none. Kates father, Baptista, tries to persuade some of Biancas suitors to pursue Kate instead. However, they make it clear that none of them could desire Kate. Mates, maid? How mean you that? No mates for you unless you were of a gentler, milder, mold (I,i, lines 58 - 60). From this it is clear that the men in th e play prefer a better mold than Kate, in new(prenominal) words, she does not carry herself as well as Bianca. Kate does not play the coy flirting games, and is therefore thought of as harsher than Bianca. Bianca, however, knows how to be flirtatious, witty, and coy most her admirers, and yet is almost intentionally mean to Kate. For instance, Bianca knows that it hurts Kate to have no suitors while she (Bianca) has several. Bianca uses this to hurt Kate. When Kate tries to find out which suitor Bianca really likes, Bianca swears that she wont take the suitor that Kate likes. She casually offers Kate whichever suitor she wants. Kate is enraged by this because she knows that the only reason that Bianca has suitors while she has none is because Bianca plays the sexual flirtation game. When Kate gets a suitor of her own, Petruchio, there is a lot of sexual tension in their relationship. At their first meeting, they exchange a barrage of sexual comments Petruchio Why , whats a movable? Kate A joint stool Petruchio Thou hast fall upon it come sit on me. Kate Asses are made to bear and so are you.