‘In the literature of love, women are often presented as submissive.’ In the light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents Katherine in her final monologue of The Taming of the Shrew (Act 5, Scene 2)

Throughout The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare often presents love as a contract between two people, though these two parties are rarely equal. In this extract, there is evidence to suggest that Shakespeare intended to present Katherine and Petruchio's relationship as a contract, as Katherine defines the conditions of their marriage. In this contract, Katherine seems to be the weaker, more submissive party. However, many would argue that although Katherine's contractual terms speak of her submission, it is her shrewdness that speaks of her insight and strength.In her submission, Katherine does not admit her own inferiority, but rather the failure of the social structure around her to account for her intelligence. Even as she prepares to put her hand beneath her husband's foot, a sign of great respect and humbleness, Katherine declares: 'My mind hath been as big as one of yours, / My heart as great, my reason haply more' (Act 5, Scene 2). Indeed, it appears that she has realised that their marriage is not a contract of reasonable agreement, but a hierarchical social tradition which demands her submission. This point is emphasised by Shakespeare's repetition of the word 'mind'. An act earlier in the play, Katherine is forced to recognise the sun as the moon because Petruchio says it is so. She replies by saying: 'the moon changes even as your mind' (Act 4, Scene 5). As Katherine highlights Petruchio's mercurial nature, a trait often associated with women in the Elizabethan era, she shows her understanding of the absurdity of her case: that the accuracy and manner of their testimonies is irrelevant and that only the couple's physical identities as man and woman dictate their accuracy. As far as Katherine is concerned, Petruchio is male and must always be right. Therefore, her submission in this final monologue is not the exhibition of a character trait, but a social gesture. In this sense she is doomed to be interpreted within and adhere to the social expectations of her contemporaries. This sentiment can be seen in one of her final lines, 'But now I see our lances are but straws' (Act 5, Scene 2). Here, Shakespeare refrains from denying the existence of Katherine's lance, which is a metaphor for her ability to debate. Rather the playwright suggests that the lance is interpreted, or 'seen', as something lesser than it is- a'straw'. In the same way, Katherine must resolve herself to being seen as less than what she is- an act which would take great strength. Therefore, although Katherine takes on the characteristics of a submissive woman, this does not necessarily speak of her inferiority but rather her marital contract and the social structure of the time.