In William Shakespeare comedy, “The taming of the Shrew, Act 1, we are introduced to Katherine and Bianca, the two unwed daughters of Baptista Minola. Here we are immediately reminded of the limited and obligated roles that women had to play in the 16th century in order to be accepted by society. Bianca, the younger of the two, is favored by her father as well as her numerous suitors because of her silent and obedient manner as opposed to her sister, Kate, who is labeled the shrew because she is opinionated and refuses to submit and obey her father, or her suitors. Kate’s actions make it extremely difficult for Baptista to find her a husband. This indicates that an opinionated woman was not, for the most part desirable whereas Bianca’s portrayal of a submissive and tamed woman was considered attractive and essential to the men of this era.
Over half a century later, in Surinam, Aphra Behn’s, tells the story of “Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave”. Imoinda, “the beautiful black venus” of the prince, much like Lucentio’s Bianca is described as modest, sweet in her behavior, and delicate. The little power that she does have over her suitors comes not only from her physical beauty but more importantly from her disposition. Like Bianca she doesn’t have much of a choice. Women in these days as depicted in both readings had little to no say in their futures. They were treated more like property and were expected to adhere to the demands of a society dominated by males.
Would Oroonoko would have felt the same way about Imoinda had she been more like Kate in The Taming of the Shrew?
You ask a very interesting question, Katherine, but you leave aside the fact that the novel Oroonoko is written by a woman — a very independent woman who travelled the world and made her living as a novelist and playwright. Isn’t that relevant?