Kate and Petruchio

The first time Kate and Petruchio ever meet (Act 2), when Petruchio tries to persuade Kate to marry him, the situation is a humor fest. Petruchio is extremely sarcastic in his comments to Kate, and scatological humor is present throughout the act. Shakespeare is a master of comedy, and gallows humor is also incorporated throughout the play in that various characters make light of the subject of death. The humor continues with the couple's wedding when Petruchio arrives late and very inappropriately dressed. Petruchio then leaves early with Kate (against her will), and it is soon discovered that all of this is in an attempt to tame her. Not only is Petruchio seeking her dowry, but he also does want a tame wife. When they arrive at Petruchio's house, Petruchio sends her to bed without dinner with the reason that the dinner was not perfect. He also plans to complain that the bed is not good enough, thus also depriving her of sleep. This is all in an attempt to curb her headstrong attitude. The typical subjugation of the woman that accompanies marriage is also present in this relationship. Petruchio makes several comments indicating that he considers Kate his property. This theme is further developed in the fact that Kate is not as adamant about her own opinions with Petruchio as she is with other men.

Kate the Shrew, Themes, Characterization, Suitor Web

The theme/motif of social status in the play coincides with Kate's label of the "shrew." A shrew is a woman of violent temper and speech, which characterizes Kate perfectly. Every character in the novel is associated with a particular social status, but Kate is left behind in this aspect in that she alienates herself from society as a whole; this also contributes to her role as the shrew. Social status can be determined from a number of factors other than wealth to include age, gender, and education. Lucentio is wealthy, young, and educated, and Tranio is his servant. Kate COULD be considered an upper-class young maiden, but she denies this social role, so only Bianca is left with it. Since Lucentio, who moves to Padua from Pisa to study at the city's renowned university, falls in love with Bianca, he becomes a classics instructor named Cambio, while Tranio takes his place as a wealthy aristocrat. Gremio and Hortensio are the other two suitors who want to marry Bianca and exist in a love-hate relationship. They are rivals when it comes to marrying Bianca, but allies when it comes to finding a tutor for her and a husband for Kate. Hortensio is friends with Petruchio, who he suggests as a husband for Kate, which solves the problem of finding a man for the oldest daughter before the youngest can wed. Hortensio then transforms himself into a music instructor to court Bianca, while Gremio finds Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) as a tutor for Bianca to place himself in a better light in Baptista's eyes. This twisted plot provides for another theme of the play: disguise. Disguise also contributes to characterization in the play.

Introduction/Themes

The convoluted plot of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew begins within the Induction and immediately after, when the entity of the frame story is established. The Lord's practical joke on Sly and Sly's resultant false and farcical relationship with his supposed wife provide for the outlying story, while the play that the traveling group of actors performs for Sly adds the remaining story of the frame tale. One of the major themes of the play is established in the beginning with the situation between Baptista and his two daughters, Katherine and Bianca, and Bianca's two suitors, Hortensio and Gremio. In the play, marriage is not approached in terms of love. Instead, suitors seek women who are submissive (Bianca) instead of fiery and independent (Katherine). Money also plays a big role in marriage, as is evidenced when Baptista chooses Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) to marry Bianca if his father can guarantee his wealth, simply because he has more material prosperity to offer Bianca than does Gremio. Another prominent theme in the play is the effect that social status has on social relationships and marriages. Baptista welcomes Petruchio to his home, even though he doesn't believe the marriage between he and Katherine will work out, because of his deceased father's (Antonio's) status in Verona.