Although stereotypes did not exist in Shakespeare’s time, they do derive from history and are still visible in modern society. Every human being gets confronted with gender stereotypes in an everyday life. May it be at work, in school, in sports or politics. In addition, everyone generally knows what a stereotype is and what kind of stereotypes do apply for men and women: short hair versus long hair, trousers versus dresses, playing football versus cooking, et cetera. This paper aims at explaining what stereotypes are, in how far they are traceable in Shakespeare’s "The Taming of the Shrew" and moreover taking an outlook on why it is important to talk about stereotypes nowadays.
Shakespeare’s "The Taming of the Shrew" is considered as his most controversial play. It represents a violent patriarchy with weak and obedient women and numerous stereotypical characters regarding female and male ones. Furthermore, the play faced a lot of critics over time. Especially the feminist movement tears the play apart and speaks almost solely negatively of it. Nevertheless, the Royal Shakespeare Company dared to perform a new production of the play this year. Justin Audibert turned the play around by doing a gender swap. A gender swap comes along with breaking stereotypes, as women become men and vice versa.
More precisely, the first chapter of this paper discusses the general topic of stereotypes. It offers a definition of the term, examples as well as a short introduction into current issues around stereotypes. After discussing what stereotypes are in general, the second chapter demonstrates those in Shakespeare’s play itself. It is divided into three topics: society, manhood and womanhood. Talking about "The Taming of the Shrew"‘s society will answer the question if its context already hints at stereotypes.
The differentiation of male and female stereotypes strengthens the importance of gender in the play. In how far is gender a topic in "The Taming of the Shrew"? Are there exceptions to be made or is every character clearly to be categorized? Lastly, a look on this year’s Royal Shakespeare Company production of the play offers an outlook on the current situation of the perception of stereotypes. Is it still a topic worth to consider and do stereotypes still exist in our society? Furthermore, the chapter answers the question in how far Audibert’s gender swap worked.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. What are stereotypes?
- 3. Stereotypes in The Taming of the Shrew
- 3.1 Society
- 3.2 Dominance of manhood
- 3.3 Subordinate womanhood
- 4. Breaking stereotypes – RSC's 2019 production
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to define stereotypes, analyze their presence in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and discuss their relevance in contemporary society. It examines the play's portrayal of gender roles and stereotypes through the lens of societal context, male dominance, and female subordination. The paper also considers a modern interpretation, the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 gender-swapped production, to assess the ongoing impact and perception of these stereotypes.
- Definition and nature of stereotypes
- Gender stereotypes in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew
- Societal context and the representation of gender roles
- The impact of gender stereotypes on individual development
- Contemporary interpretations and challenges to traditional gender roles
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by establishing the prevalence of gender stereotypes in daily life and their historical roots. It introduces Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew as a controversial play rife with stereotypical portrayals of men and women, noting the play's history of criticism, particularly from feminist perspectives, and highlighting the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 gender-swapped production as a significant counterpoint. The chapter outlines the structure of the paper, promising a deep dive into the definition of stereotypes, their presence in the play, and their continued relevance in modern society.
2. What are stereotypes?: This chapter provides a working definition of stereotypes, differentiating between oversimplified generalizations and harmful, negative associations. It draws upon Cox's work to illustrate how stereotypes are not merely inaccurate but also ethically problematic. The chapter notes that even seemingly positive stereotypes can create unfair expectations. Using Cox's model, the chapter visualizes the cognitive link between seemingly neutral characteristics and harmful stereotypical associations. The chapter then focuses on gender stereotypes specifically, highlighting their pervasive nature, their impact on children's development, and the four components of gender identified by Haines: traits, role behaviors, physical characteristics, and occupations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Gender stereotypes, Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, patriarchy, feminism, gender roles, societal context, Royal Shakespeare Company, contemporary relevance, gender-swapped production.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Gender Stereotypes in Shakespeare's *The Taming of the Shrew*
What is the purpose of this paper?
This paper analyzes gender stereotypes in Shakespeare's *The Taming of the Shrew*, examining their presence in the play and their relevance in contemporary society. It explores how the play portrays gender roles and stereotypes, considering societal context, male dominance, and female subordination. The paper also investigates a modern interpretation—the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 gender-swapped production—to assess the ongoing impact and perception of these stereotypes.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the definition and nature of stereotypes, gender stereotypes in *The Taming of the Shrew*, the societal context and representation of gender roles, the impact of gender stereotypes on individual development, and contemporary interpretations and challenges to traditional gender roles.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured as follows: an introduction establishing the context and outlining the paper's aims; a chapter defining stereotypes and their harmful nature; an analysis of stereotypes within *The Taming of the Shrew*, broken down into societal factors, male dominance, and female subordination; an examination of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 gender-swapped production as a modern counterpoint; and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings.
How does the paper define stereotypes?
The paper defines stereotypes as oversimplified generalizations, differentiating between inaccurate generalizations and harmful, negative associations. It draws upon existing scholarly work to illustrate how stereotypes are ethically problematic, noting that even seemingly positive stereotypes can create unfair expectations. The paper utilizes models to visualize the cognitive links between seemingly neutral characteristics and harmful stereotypical associations.
How does the paper analyze gender stereotypes in *The Taming of the Shrew*?
The analysis of *The Taming of the Shrew* focuses on the play's portrayal of gender roles and stereotypes through the lens of societal context, male dominance, and female subordination. It examines how these representations contribute to and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
What is the significance of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 production?
The Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 gender-swapped production serves as a crucial case study to understand contemporary interpretations and challenges to traditional gender roles. It provides a counterpoint to the original play's portrayal of gender stereotypes and allows for an examination of how these stereotypes are perceived and understood in modern society.
What are the key takeaways from the paper?
The paper highlights the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes, their historical roots, and their ongoing impact on individuals and society. It demonstrates how literary works like *The Taming of the Shrew* can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and how modern interpretations can challenge and re-evaluate these representations.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Key words include: Gender stereotypes, Shakespeare, *The Taming of the Shrew*, patriarchy, feminism, gender roles, societal context, Royal Shakespeare Company, contemporary relevance, gender-swapped production.
- Quote paper
- Nicole Piontek (Author), 2019, Gender Stereotypes in Shakespeare’s "The Taming of the Shrew", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1168355
