Essay/Term paper: Different images of the wife between sixteenth centuries and today

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Book Reports

Different Images of the Wife Between Sixteenth Centuries and Today


Today many wives always want to have same position with their husband.
So that they always have conflict with each other. Why they always have
conflict? Actually, it is effected by wife who changes the traditional role.
As I remembered that wife and husband lived together very well in
sixteenth century. They didn't have any conflict. Many wives would obey their
husband when their husband order them to do everything. What different image of
the wife between sixteenth centuries and today? We can divide three different
images to explain in the Shakespeare's play " The Taming of the shrew" and two
articles for " Japanese women no longer resigned to traditional roles" and " Men,
women more confused about roles".
The first different image is that many wives liked to live with their
husband together in sixteenth centuries. In "The Taming of the shrew", Katherine
needed to live in the Petruchio's house. When she pointed out the mistake to her
husband, her husband would call her who came back to their home. We can see that
the respect of Katherine " Forward, I pray, since we have come so far, and be
it moon, or sun, or what you please." 1 In fact, she needed her husband to
support her life. If Petruchio didn't support her life, then she couldn't live
only herself. Oppositely, many wives have their new style of life today. They
don't need their husband to support their life. They can take care themselves.
In article "Men, women more confused about roles" , Lillian is an example, "
When her marriage ended, she returned to work but would prefer to return full
time to mothering." 2 , who doesn't need her husband to support her life.
The second different image is that many husbands married their wife
just for love in the sixteenth centuries. In " The Taming of the shrew" Lucentio
loved Bianca very much, so that he disguised as a teacher who taught her Latin
everyday. He wanted to express his love to Bianca. However, many husbands marry
their wife not only for love today. Actually, they marry their wife who have
another purpose. Miss Enomoto explains her feeling in the article " Japanese
women no longer resigned to traditional roles". She recognizes that " They think
that just because I can cook, I can make a very good wife or a very good mother.
But a mother is someone who raises children, not a cook. A wife is a partner,
not a cook." 3
The third different image is that the role of the wife is changed. In
sixteenth centuries, the role of the wife was that " And craves no other tribute
at thy hands. But love, fair looks, and true obedience -" 4 . So that many wives
obeyed their husband. However, according to the article " Men, women more
confused about roles" . Lillian explains the new role of the wife on today. It
is that " Interesting that what for centuries has been acceptable conduct for
women is unacceptable for men. Interesting, too, that men- who once felt
threatened by women's invasion of the workplace- wouldn't consider having them
stay at home" 5 . Today many wives have their own careers, then they will not
stay at home with their husband.
By comparison among three different images, we can know that many wives
will not care their husband on today, they only care how much money they own. It
makes that the traditional role of the wife is broken down. But how about the
role of the wife in the future?