Shakespeare's Katherina & Bianca: The Bad/Good Woman & Good/Bad Woman

Introduction: When reading Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, one should keep in mind the dynamics of power between the sexes common in his time. Taming of the Shrew Officially these dynamics were fairly simple: men had the power and women didn't. They did not earn a living, could not vote in what little representative government there was, and could not hold a public office (EXCEPT for Queen Elizabeth, the blazing exception for the age).

Even in marriage, the woman was seen as a useful addition rather than an equal participant. Whatever the poets of Shakespeare's day may say and write about love, wealthy fathers basically bribed young men to take their daughters off their hands with large dowries. Meanwhile women themselves could not own property unless nearly every male relative was DEAD.

The Good/Bad Daughter Love, in fact, was the one area in which women exerted some semblance of power. The way to exert one's will and to achieve personal goals in a woman's life was to be beloved. This is a lesson which at the play's beginning, only one of Baptista's daughters has learned.

Bianca, it is clear from the text, knows that to make men do what she wants, she must act sweet, loving and submissive (however she may feel). Although Bianca will have to swallow humble pie periodically, in the end she will be able to manipulate men to do her will. Bianca does not confront directly; instead she undermines the authority with manipulation. undermines We, the readers, know that she is successful by Baptista's fawning:

Bianca, get you in: And let it not displease thee, good Bianca, For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. This is so overt that Kate says "A pretty peat! it is best / Put finger in the eye, an she knew why." We don't know all that is going on between these sisters, but one gets the sense of an unsaid and ongoing tension in which Bianca's part is not seen. Because of this she comes off looking wonderful and note that Kate’s anger becomes more understandable.

And it is not even fair. Note how Lucentio says the following as he compares her with Kate: But in the other's silence do I see Maid's mild behavior and sobriety. Peace, Tranio!... thou may'st hear Minerva speak. Minerva is the goddess of Wisdom, what has she said that is so wise? Nothing Unlike Kate who has demonstrated her wit against Hortenseo

Clearly Bianca as learned that modesty and a soft answer please the power wielding males. All well and good, except that Bianca is not by nature always submissive nor always mild. In one surprising speech she reveals her own strong willed tendencies: Why, gentlemen, you do me double wrong, To strive for that which resteth in my choice: I am no breeching scholar in the schools; I'll not be tied to hours nor 'pointed times, But learn my lessons as I please myself. And, to cut off all strife, here sit we down: Take you your instrument, play you the whiles; His lecture will be done ere you have tuned (Emphasis Mine)