The Taming of the Shrew
The accepted social mores of Elizabethan times are comparatively very different to those of the present day. Speaking generally, people's attitudes, ways of thinking, and expectations have diversified immensely for the better. Males and females are viewed differently by each other and by society in general, and have reached a level of equality never before encountered in earlier times. In Shakespeare's play, women are portrayed as being powerless in their own lives and in everything around them. Males seem to be the domineering and controlling sex. This way of thinking resulted in the inequality experienced over the years by women and men all over the world, and the subdivided roles of each sex. When we look at the present time, what are the socially accepted positions of males? We think firstly of the physically stronger sex and the sex relied upon to ensure his family's safety and well being, after that however, everything else isn't strictly male only territory. In Elizabethan times though, the role of ma male was strictly marked out and outlined to a T. Their aim was to marry, make obedient their wives, produce children, provide for him and his family, and then be waited upon hand and foot by their newly conquered possessi
In consideration of these two scenes, there are only two things that may not have been believed or accepted by the audience. The bodice of the gown was usually tight fitting with square shoulders, the skirt was usually a dark colour, and the gown often featured a high collar. The only time they would wear different attire would be in the final scene when they attend the banquet. Women were merely pawns in a world so greatly ruled by Lords. People often created their own music and enjoyed dancing and singing to it's beat. Elizabethans loved listening to music, in fact, music was a common feature of any banquet, party or celebration. With little props on stage, the audience could now concentrate on the play being performed, without having to pay much attention to the setting. Men were the leaders, the conquerors, the providers, 'thy lords'. Costumes in this play would have been quite rare. This would also not have been the case in those times. Shakespeare's play was not dependent on props to tell the story, but rather the actors' acting ability. For this occasion women would be wearing clothes which covered them completely. This way people from every social class could attend the theatre.
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,
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