Taming of the Shrew

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Kate and Petruchio’s Relationship

Kate and Petruchio’s relationship changes and develops drastically though the play. Petruchio agrees to marry Kate, wealth being the only reason. Kate is referred to as “the shrew” in the book and is known among the area for her big mouth and rudeness. Petruchio is aware of this, but does not mind, for he is in it for the money and he is confident that he can tame her. Baptista is quite happy to have is eldest daughter married off, for at moments he was unsure if she ever would, due to her behavior. However, Kate despised Petruchio and was not hesitant to conceal it.  Even then was Petruchio not fearful of being married to Kate. He tells her in Act 2, Scene 1:

Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented


That you shall be my wife, your dowry ‘greed on,


And will you, nill you, I will marry you.


Now Kate, I am a husband for your turn,


For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty— 


Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well—


Thou must be married to no man but me,


For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,


And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate


Conformable as other household Kates.


Here comes your father. Never make denial.


I must and will have Katherine to my wife.

The fellow men doubt that Petruchio would ever be able, but in the end, it turns out that Petruchio was indeed able to tame her. But, it was shocking to see that Kate became more obedient to her husband, Petruchio, than Lucentio’s and Hortensio’s wives were obedient to them. Kate finishes the play with a long speech declaring “thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
 thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee…” All were astonished that this shrew could ever be tamed. Petruchio, although arrogant, was able to.

Kate and Bianca’s Relationship

Kate is a short-tempered, big-mouthed maiden that never seems to show any extent of happiness but only anger. In result, many doubt her to be wed to any man. Bianca (Kate’s younger sister) on the other hand, is gentle and kind and is loved by all, especially men. Kate has her insecurities and it is believed that her anger and hatred comes from her knowing that no man will marry her, but no man will marry her because of her anger and hatred. Kate thinks that she will be unmarried until she dies, and therefore is incredibly jealous of her sister Bianca. In Act 2, Scene 1, Kate fights with Bianca and ties her up to show her anger. When Baptista comes to free Bianca, Kate responds saying:

“What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see 
    

She is your treasure, she must have a husband; 
    

I must dance bare-foot on her wedding day 
    

And for your love to her lead apes in hell. 
    

Talk not to me: I will go sit and weep 
    

Till I can find occasion of revenge.”

This reveals that Kate is also angry because she feels that her father favours Bianca over her, which adds a significant amount of tension in the relationship between Kate and Bianca as well as Kate and her father, Baptista. This puts Bianca in a difficult position because she hadn’t done anything wrong. Besides this circumstance, there is not much interaction between Bianca and Kate throughout the play.

Disguises/Deception

Disguises are something that reoccurs in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. In the Induction, Sly is disguised as a wealthy lord for the enjoyment of the Lord. In the play, the amount of people disguised and deceiving others becomes an overwhelming amount. Both Lucentio and Hortensio disguise themselves as schoolteachers and tutors to be able to interact with Bianca, for the both claim to be in love with her. Tranio disguises as Lucentio in his place and Pedant as Vincentio. They repetiveness of people disguising as different people proposes the idea that the clothes you were determine how people see you and treat you. In Act 3, Scene 2, Petruchio shows up late for his wedding and is accused of wearing unsuitable clothing for being wed, he defends himself by saying: “To me she's married, not unto my clothes…” This quote reflects that people shouldn’t be treated for the way they dress but to who their personality and character is.