Post #2- Desire

Emily Lagarde

Desire in "Comedy of Errors" and "Taming of the Shrew."

Although "Comedy of Errors" is a fun poke at societal and politial normalicies of the time, there are the serious undertones, such as slavery, violence, subordination of women and hierarchical statuses. In terms of desire, I believe it that mistaken identity, or the desire for an individual and own identity is a major theme in this play. First, there are two sets of twins. Twins already have a loss in physical identity and search to find personal traits that make them their own. But in this play, it is interesting the way twins also go with the idea of hierarchy in society. Just because you look like something, you are already viewed as an idea and therefore remain the same. For example,Antipholus E. has sent Dromio S. for money but Dromio E. comes back with the rope which was ordered before all this transpired and Antipholus beats Dromio E. for not following orders in IV. 4. Antipholus E. beats Dromio because he is a slave and even if it was Dromio's twin, it would not matter because their identity is in being a slave and nothing else. Identity for the Dromio's does not matter because they are seen as slaves and will not be seen as anything else. However, with the Antipholus brothers they are able to resolute with the errors because they have some status and can be seen as higher humans and therefore worth sorting. The desire motives in this come with Antipholus E and Antipholus S. They desire to be known that they do not have debt and are good citizens. They want their names cleared and desire that everyone knows them for their individual good deeds. Luckily, at the end in Act V. 1, the Antipholus's get their orders straightened out and their desire is met. The interesting roles that the Antipholus brothers and the Dromio brothers have are similar yet very far removed. They are both twins desiring a correct identity but the Antipholuses achieve it because they have the means to do so. The theme of Desire is not big in this particular play, but there is that human need, the desire, for individuality and to not be mistaken for another person's misdeeds.
In, "The Taming of the Shrew," Desire has more of an apparent role. I will focus on Petruchio's desire, although each character has their own wants, especially with lust. But Petruchio is a good example of what the play is trying to tell to its audience.
Petruchio desires wealth and then a desire to discipline his wife so he can have control over her and also so that his reputation in town is not one where his wife is a shrew and uncontrolled by a man. His desires become true because he gives into them and they become his entire life's mission. Being driven by these goals, these personal wants that are not the most admirable, Petruchio is able to succeed and becomes his own hero at the end when he is able to show off his victory with making Kate obedient. He orders her around saying in Act V.2, line132-234 "Katherine I charge thee, tell these headstrong women what duty they do owe their lords and husbands." Then in lines 141, "I say she shall." Petruchio has made Kate do his own speaking at this point, showing dominance. He also has learned that whatever he desires he can get now because he achieved this victory with Kate and therefore all his friends see what an accomplishment he is too. On the other hand, Kate's desires have been extinguished because of Petruchio's insistence on his own.
So far I have noticed that desiring is a very potent emotion in Shakespeare's plays. It leads to a character's actions. Its a strong emotion that can either be flourished like with Petruchio or the Antipholus brothers, or run out like with Kate and the Dromio brothers. From this pattern I am seeing that having status, and the more status you have, the more you can give into desires and they become a reality. For the lesser, like women, slaves or the poor this will not happen as much giving a good insight into the realities of the time period Shakespeare was getting inspiration from.