In the following I am going to approach Shakespeare’s „The Taming of the Shrew,“ by analyzing selected dialogues according to their communication patterns. Main focus here is it to look at relationship and gender structures and their manifestations. The question raised is whether language is specifically used to affirm
polarities, or even if these polarities are only a result of defining language. To what extent is reality constructed through this language and for what reason? What positions do non-verbal communication signs, such as clothes and body-language
have, and do they influence the interaction as well?
Working with a text always brings up questions and conclusions that may be subjective and just one possible interpretation. I have tried to show different approaches and have backed up my analysis with studies in communication sciences such as works by Watzlawick and Schultz von Thun. The main axiom on which I base this paper on is: “All behaviour is communication.” I am going to present different aspects of language to picture communication as a
whole, as a system with various elements, supporting each other.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Question of identity
2.1. Basis
2.2. Language creates categories
2.3. Non-verbal communication through costume
2.4. Figures of speech as communication
3. Communication and power struggle
3.1. Basis
3.2. Battle for definitions (Act IV, Scene I)
3.3. Taming the falcon (Act IV, Scenes I-III)
3.4. Submission? (Act IV, Scene V)
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Main Topics
This work examines communication patterns in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" to analyze how gender structures and social hierarchies are manifested and maintained through language, non-verbal signs, and power dynamics.
- Analysis of linguistic communication patterns and their role in identity formation.
- Examination of non-verbal communication, specifically the use of costume and body language.
- Investigation of the "taming" process as a strategic power struggle and conflict management tool.
- Critical exploration of the relationship between social conventions, hierarchy, and the construction of individual reality.
- Review of communication science frameworks (Watzlawick, Schulz von Thun) applied to Elizabethan drama.
Excerpt from the Book
2.4. Figures of speech as communication
Shakespeare’s metaphorical references start with the title: ”The Taming of the shrew.” Taming is a word used for wild animals and is here applied to a woman. Throughout the play, people are compared to animals. Sometimes the relationship of tamer to animal is a key male-female image. Hortensio can’t “break” Katherina to the lute, referring to the breaking of a horse (2.1.145-149). Both Bianca and Katherina are called “haggards” (4.2.39): hawks caught in maturity and therefore needing to be mastered. Petruchio’s strategy with Katherine is explicitly modelled on the “manning” or taming of a haggard. It seems as if women were referred to as animals not other than ones to be tamed. Males are never referred to as animals, only in the relationship of tamer versus animal.
The reference to humans as animals stems from Ovidian literature. Ovid’s theories about love and metamorphosis are directly referred to in Cambio’s first Latin lesson with Bianca (2.1.28-29), and there are references to “The Art of Love” (the Ars Amatoris) in the second Latin Lesson (4.2.7). “Metamorphosis ought to be useful in comedy – a form committed by its nature to the belief that people can change. (...) (However) Ovid’s metamorphoses are, in fact, not true changes but terminal revelations of stasis.” Whereas in Ovid people turn into animals, a primary motif of “The Taming of the Shrew” is the elevation of animals into people- indeed, not only into people but into suitable spouses – a rather more difficult feat.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the scope of the study, establishing the axiom that all behavior is communication and setting the stage for analyzing gender structures in Shakespeare's play.
2. Question of identity: This chapter explores how language and social conditioning create cognitive categories, focusing on how Katherina's identity is defined and restricted by societal norms and external perceptions.
3. Communication and power struggle: The chapter applies communication theories to analyze the specific dialogic interactions between Katherina and Petruchio, identifying the power dynamics and "taming" techniques employed throughout the play.
4. Conclusion: The study synthesizes its findings, acknowledging that while Shakespeare depicts a rigid patriarchal structure, the play also invites modern readers to question the nature of the "taming" process and the possibility of equality in discourse.
Keywords
Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Communication Science, Gender Studies, Power Struggle, Identity, Language Patterns, Non-verbal Communication, Taming, Metaphor, Elizabethan Drama, Social Conventions, Double-bind, Watzlawick, Schulz von Thun
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on analyzing communication patterns within Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" to understand how language and behavior shape gender dynamics and power structures between characters.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in the text?
The main themes include the construction of identity through language, the role of non-verbal communication such as costume, and the exploration of conflict management and power struggles in Elizabethan relationships.
What is the main research question or objective?
The author aims to investigate whether language is specifically utilized to reinforce gender polarities and to what extent reality is constructed through the communication patterns presented in the play.
Which scientific methods are employed for the analysis?
The author utilizes theories from communication science, specifically the works of Paul Watzlawick and Friedemann Schulz von Thun, to examine dialogue patterns and interactional outcomes.
What does the main body of the text address?
The main body breaks down the play into stages of communication, analyzing Katherina's social dilemma, the "taming" tactics used by Petruchio, and the impact of these interactions on Katherina's sense of self.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include communication science, power struggle, gender roles, identity formation, Elizabethan theater, and linguistic analysis of dramatic texts.
How does the author interpret the significance of "silence" in the play?
The author interprets silence not as consent, but as a condition often forced upon women when they find that speech is an ineffective tool to express their internal state or defend against social pressures.
What is the author's view on the "taming" process at the end of the play?
The author suggests that while the play reflects a patriarchal structure, Katherina's adaptation can be seen as her finding a survival strategy within society's expectations, rather than a total destruction of her personality.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Juliane von Heimendahl (Autor:in), 2001, Aspects of Communication in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/9166
