The Issue of Female Strength and Submission

Depicting Strength as a Female often Leads to Difficulties and Dismay

In the Shakespearian play, Taming of the Shrew, the theme of “displaying yourself as a strong female figure, can often cause troubles and trite when interacting with your society”. One of the main characters, Katherine, is often portrayed as a robust, ribald, independent and defiant female while her sister, Bianca, is portrayed with a soft, demure and submissive female figure. A prominent example of the theme in Taming of the Shrew is when Petruchio proceeds to marry Katherine despite her unequivocal denial and dislike. This causes trouble because Petruchio, like many of the males in his society, feel like females are to be dominated and in this situation “tamed”. This action is also mirrored in the short story “A House on Mango Street” this same theme is evoked as the narrator explains their past. The narrator’s grandmother was a very strong woman and apparently was forced to marry someone who she didn’t want to and now lives her life quiet and submissively. This situation solidifies the scene because the grandmother was also “tamed” by the end of her life.  These texts are similar because in both a female figure ends up being “tamed” by a male figure and left submissive to his ruling and domineering ways. However, these texts are different because in “A House on Mango Street” the story is set in relatively modern times and females do have a chance to stay strong unlike ancient times depicted in “Taming of the Shrew” where the presence of gender roles and female submission is strongly enforced. Nevertheless, both texts respect the theme of “displaying yourself as a strong female figure, can often cause troubles and trite when interacting with your society” because in both stories a female figure faces troubles due to her strength and independence. (-Shannon V. Robinson)