Shakespeare

9 Pages 2369 Words

“…Shakespeare examines the contrast between those who follow accepted social forms and those who challenge them…” (Dash 252). Shakespeare’s works are known for portraying women in a different way than was socially acceptable during his time period. Why do Kathrina in the play The Taming of the Shrew, Beatrice in the play Much Ado About Nothing, and Cleopatra in the play Antony and Cleopatra go from being strong female characters to weak ones after they fall in love?
When analyzing this question, it is important to first understand the women and their characterization. Kathrina is the eldest daughter of her family and has one younger sister. During this time period the eldest daughter had to get married before the younger one was able to. Kathrina is referred to as “Kathrina the curst! A title for a maid of all the titles the worst!” (The Taming of the Shrew Act 1 Scene 2). No one wishes to marry her and she does not wish to get married. Kathrina has a sharp tongue and does not believe that she will ever fall in love or get married. Kathrina’s father wants her to get married, so his younger daughter can also marry. He asks many men to marry Kathrina but they all reply that she is too much of a shrew to marry. Like Kathrina, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, believes that she will never fall in love. In Act 1, Scene 1, she states “…I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.” Beatrice feels that she can not fall in love with a man who can not match her wit, and she feels that no man will ever be able to match her wit, therefore she will never marry. Unlike the other two women, Cleopatra is not married, however she does not despise men like the other two do. When first introduced to Cleopatra she is having an affair with Antony, one of the emperors of the Roman Empire. She is a very dramatic person and feels that she must have control over Antony’s emotions towards her....