"Sigh no more, ladies": marriages of submission in Shakespeare's "The taming of the shrew" and "Much ado about nothing"

Drouin, J. S. (2000). "Sigh no more, ladies": marriages of submission in Shakespeare's "The taming of the shrew" and "Much ado about nothing". https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2807

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Details:

Title

"Sigh no more, ladies": marriages of submission in Shakespeare's "The taming of the shrew" and "Much ado about nothing"

Author
Drouin, Jennifer Suzanne
Call Number

LE3 .A278 2000

Date

2000

Supervisor

Slights, Jessica

Degree Grantor

Acadia University

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Degree Level

Masters

Discipline

English

Affiliation

English & Theatre Studies

Abstract

This thesis is a comparative study of marriages of submission in William Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'Much Ado About Nothing'. It examines the submissive role in marriage to which loquacious women are confined and their loss of linguistic freedom. It critically analyzes the patriarchal social order in which early modern women are mere commodities or objects of male sexual desire, and the threat that these verbal women pose to the social order. This thesis argues and concludes that 'Much Ado About Nothing ' can be read as a revision of 'The Taming of the Shrew' in regards to its discourse on women and marriage and regarding the playwright's treatment of the characters, particularly Beatrice and Katherina. It compares the process by which both women are tamed and silenced in their transition from witty, free-spirited women to silent, obedient wives.

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The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

Permanent Link

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2807

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