Scolding Brides And Bridling Scolds Taming The Woman s...

In Scolding Brides and Bridling Scolds: Taming the Woman s Unruly Member, Lynda Boose explains that when Kate puts her hand under Petruchio s boot it is part of the ceremonial custom when a bride was offered a share of property by her intended husband, but also a physical representation of the marriage vow to love, honor, and obey (182-183). Brides were increasingly indisposed to perform this part of the ceremony is apparent from all kinds of invented fumbling at the altar, for example dropping the rings, when the act of self-abasement was expected (183-184). Boose explains that the ceremonial debasement of women during their marriage ceremony was something that would be easily recognizable to an audience in Shakespeare’s time (184). Boose then moves on to the actual punishments of shrews in early modern England. She explains that during this time there was civil disorder and â€Å"strained gender relations† that ended with what some people would call â€Å"witch hunts† (184). This is interesting because it was more likely that a woman would get into trouble for mouthing off rather than committing sexual misconduct. The most popular form of punishment was public dunking in a public horse-wash pond (185). The woman charged with the offense would be attached to a â€Å"cucking stool†, paraded through the town square and then dunked in a dirty pond where people would wash their horses. Boose points out the line in 1.1.55 when Grumio declares that instead of courting Kate, a man shouldShow MoreRelatedEssay on Kate in William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew1760 Words   |  8 PagesKate in William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew Katharina or Kate, the shrew of William Shakespeares The Taming Of The Shrew is sharp-tongued, quick-tempered, and prone to violence and violent outbursts, especially to anyone who tries to win her love. This is shown from the beginning in Act One with the scene among Hortensio and Gremio and her. When Gremio proclaims her too rough