Clothing In The Taming Of The Shrew

Words: 600
Pages: 3
Open Document
In William Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare displays a wide array of clothing. Some clothing helps to distinguish characters, assuming actors played multiple parts, but clothing also serves to represent multiple themes. Transformation, social class, and power are all themes that are supported by the use of clothing. The first time readers see clothing serving as a symbol is when the Lord orders his men to dress Sly up as a rich man to trick him. The induction scene shows readers that clothes will be important when it comes to transformation. The transformation presented in the induction is from poor, drunk man, into a supposed rich and mighty lord. This same induction scene also provides readers the chance to see …show more content…
Prior to this scene, readers see Petruchio wearing nice clothes, and they were most likely expensive at that; however, Petruchio shows up to the wedding in shambles. Tranio states, after seeing Petruchio, “Not so well appareled/As I wish you were” (3.2.89-90). Petruchio, a few moments after hearing this, responds, “To me she’s married, not onto my clothes” (3.2.117). This famous quotation helps to show readers that although Petruchio doesn’t look rich and powerful, he still is Kate’s husband and the tamer of the shrew.
While Petruchio’s famous quotation serves as a sign that his clothes are not who he is, it also allows readers to see the power that clothing has throughout The Taming of the Shrew. Clothing serves the role of power by having it physically represent a man’s wealth, which in the time, the wealthier, the more powerful. When Petruchio has the tailor come to his house to make an outfit for Kate, he makes the most splendid of outfits. Presumably, this outfit would’ve shown the citizens of Padua just how rich and powerful Kate’s husband is, however, Petruchio decides that in order to tame Kate, she must not have nice clothing. This scene shows readers that Kate has had nice clothes, which is why she expects to get this gown, but Petruchio is not allowing her fine …show more content…
Literally, power is how influential or strong a person is, but what about clothing? Can clothes be powerful? Before Kate gives her famous monologue, Petruchio orders her to throw her cap onto the ground. Petruchio states “that cap becomes you not” (5.2.121), which shows that her clothing doesn’t make her into the woman that she is. This powerful example of what clothing can do shows readers that yes, clothing can have power.
By Kate throwing her cap onto the ground as commanded, she sets an example to other wives, for “Thy husband is the lord, the life, the keeper/Thy head, the sovereign” (5.2.146-147). Clothing is a symbol of change, social class, and power. Throughout The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare develops these thematic topics with the help of clothing.Whether it’s portraying the connotation of a poor drunk, or the status of lordship, clothes serve as a support for the thematic topics presented in The Taming of the
Show More

Related Documents: Clothing In The Taming Of The Shrew

Essay on Deception in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew

Year 10 English In the Shakespearian play: The Taming of the Shrew, deception is one of the major concepts. A tangled web is created in the play through deception of character behavior and the change between clothing and class. Most of the deception in the play have particular motives behind them and create dramatic irony. Shakespeare has used dramatic irony to create a comedic play. Character deception in The Taming of the Shrew is used largely, and Lucentio one of the main characters…

Words 915 - Pages 4

Taming Of The Shrew Feminist Analysis

patriarchy, gender and sex roles, and the relationship between gender and power in Shakespeare's plays. “Taming of the shrew” is one of the play which shakespeare wrote in perspective of Feminism. During the Renaissance, the controversy over women took various forms, sometimes debating their basic nature, their legal and moral rights, their clothing, and their behavior. “The Taming of the Shrew” centers on appropriate and inappropriate female behavior (shrewishness and scolding), particularly within…

Words 589 - Pages 3

Kiss Me Kate Essay

it difficult for them to perform in their musical production of The Taming of the Shrew. On a lesser degree, Lois Lane who plays as Bianca played by Emily Chelsea and Bill Cahoun who plays as Lucentio played by Matt Dunn suffers the same problem. Gardner and Denton stood out to me in particular because it was apparent that when she revealed the note that Gardner was was supposed to send to Chelsea during the musical production of The Taming of the Shrew, the production did not goes as planned as Denton continuously did not follow protocol and became…

Words 1187 - Pages 5

Brief Summary: London Fashion In The 1500's

Ages, typically only very few people had enough wealth to dress in extravagant clothing. After the Renaissance began, however, more people were able to acquire enough money to dress in luxury costumes and accessories. Men and women alike dressed in gowns that ran from their neck all the way to the floor. These gowns, or also known as houppelandes, were crafted in several luxury materials such as silk and velvet. Clothing was typically very detailed and brightly colored. Women, particularly, dressed…

Words 1530 - Pages 7