'Petruchio In Taming Of The Shrew'

Words: 700
Pages: 3

Shakespeare in his famed comedy Taming of The Shrew initially represents the character Katherine as being the Shrew referenced in the title. On numerous occasions in the early stages of the play Katherine is compared to a devilish being who will never find love. When Katherine obtains a wealth driven suitor named Petruchio, the question as to which one of the characters is the the real Shrew, referred to in the title, arises. The real Shrew is clearly identified as the story progresses. Shakespeare depicts Petruchio as the Shrew in which Katherine must tame in order to for her to reap the potential benefits that marrying Petruchio has to offer. Katherine begins to understand how to buy into Petruchio’s games to gain whatever she desires, and by doing this she is actively “taming Petruchio”. These actions show the audience that Petruchio is in fact the Shrew and not Katherine. …show more content…
Hortensio in regards to Katherine says, “From all such devils, good Lord, deliver us” (I.i.67). Gremio also refers to Katherine as a “fiend of hell” (I.i.90). It seemed common knowledge of all the people of Padua that Katherine was not to be tampered with. No one was interested in marrying a so called devilish Katherine, and Baptista, her father, was eagerly awaiting a single suitor willing to wed his cursed daughter. When Petruchio, a suitor only looking for Katherine’s family riches enters the picture, the question of who the real Shrew is, begins to be debated by the audience. No one had ever dared to attempt to wed Kate before, but Petruchio was up for the