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  • Comparison Between Duchess of Malfi and Katherina From The Taming of The Shrew

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    The document compares the female protagonists in The Duchess of Malfi and The Taming of the Shrew. Both the Duchess and Katherina defy social norms and expectations for women's behavior, which results in their mistreatment and oppression. Specifically, the Duchess remarries without her brother's permission, while Katherina refuses to behave submissively. Though their stories differ, both characters face abuse from the patriarchal society and male authority figures for asserting their independence and autonomy. Ultimately, both the Duchess and Katherina are unable to overcome the inequitable power held by men at that time in history.

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    The document compares the female protagonists in The Duchess of Malfi and The Taming of the Shrew. Both the Duchess and Katherina defy social norms and expectations for women's behavior, which results in their mistreatment and oppression. Specifically, the Duchess remarries without her brother's permission, while Katherina refuses to behave submissively. Though their stories differ, both characters face abuse from the patriarchal society and male authority figures for asserting their independence and autonomy. Ultimately, both the Duchess and Katherina are unable to overcome the inequitable power held by men at that time in history.

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    59 views2 pages

    Comparison Between Duchess of Malfi and Katherina From The Taming of The Shrew

    Uploaded by

    İrem Küçük
    The document compares the female protagonists in The Duchess of Malfi and The Taming of the Shrew. Both the Duchess and Katherina defy social norms and expectations for women's behavior, which results in their mistreatment and oppression. Specifically, the Duchess remarries without her brother's permission, while Katherina refuses to behave submissively. Though their stories differ, both characters face abuse from the patriarchal society and male authority figures for asserting their independence and autonomy. Ultimately, both the Duchess and Katherina are unable to overcome the inequitable power held by men at that time in history.

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    of 2

    ELIT 217

    Question 1: Comparison between The Duchess of Malfi and Katherina.

    The Duchess of Malfi is a revenge tragedy that was written by John Webster in the Jacobean
    era. The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy play by William Shakespeare written in the
    Elizabethan era. Although the plays took place in different periods and belong to separate
    genres, both treat the themes of power and gender roles. Additionally, the treatment of these
    themes is achieved through the persecution of the focal female characters in the plays. The
    social degradation of women was characteristic of the era that the plays took place.

    The Duchess of Malfi and Katherina share a similar catastrophe of maltreatment by the male
    authority. The Duchess was a young widow, and remarrying was almost scandalous at that
    time. It could happen only through the approval of the blood-related male figures. However,
    against the intense pressure of her brothers (and the society) that they made her vow that she'll
    never marry, she chooses a husband for herself and marries without the consent of her
    brothers. She displays her autonomy and defiance by saying: ‘‘let old wives report/ I winked
    and chose a husband.’’ In the case of defying social norms and marriage, Katherina was a
    maiden that drew her suitors away by her unideal behaviors. She did not behave and talk
    according to what the males expected of a maiden. Katherina did not allow the males to
    belittle her. In scene 1 of the first act, she replies to Hortensio's insult of her behaviors as not
    being gentle and mild enough to be a wife by saying: ‘‘I’ faith, sir, you shall never need to
    fear. I wis it is not halfway to her heart. But if it were, doubt not her care should be To comb
    your noddle with a three-legged stool and paint your face and use you like a fool.’’ Katherina,
    like the Duchess, shows autonomy in the face of patriarchal oppression. For all that, Katherina
    loses her self-determination throughout the play against the cruel torment of her husband. (To
    mention, Katherina is in a weaker position compared to the Duchess. Katherina has no one to
    turn to and is an outcast to society and her family. On the other hand, the Duchess has a
    family and somewhat power through her status.) Although the Duchess's self-determination
    brings death to her and her loved ones, she does not give up on her beliefs until death. And
    even in demise, she asserts herself and reinforces her choices by saying: ‘‘I am Duchess of
    Malfi still.’’

    All things considered, the Duchess and Katherina show similarities in the case of not
    complying with the expected gender roles of their society. Their stories are different, yet the
    ill-treatment of the patriarchal society they endure is akin. They try to resist the rules that
    oppressed them, shape them into something they do not want just because they were women.
    Alas, both the characters share the fate of succumbing to the inequitable power their male
    counterparts held.

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