The Taming of the Shrew

A detailed Summary of The Taming of the Shrew

Relationships in "The Taming of the Shrew"

In the Shakespeare play, The Taming of the Shrew, many courtships and marriages take place, however, only one of these relationships would stand the test of time. Petruchio and Kate have the only relationship in this play which lasts, even though it starts out the worst. The marriages between Hortensio and the widow, and Lucentio and Bianca would not work in reality due to many factors. These relationships have three things in common: the couples were married for money, they married in haste, and an antagonistic connection; This, however, does not seem to affect Petruchio or Kate, as their bond only grows stronger throughout the play.

All of these relationships have money as a main factor in their formation. Petruchio said himself, "I come to wive it wealthily in padua; If wealthily, then happily in padua," [I:ii:74]. Marrying for money was Petruchio's main goal. He didn't even care about who he was marrying, as long as he received a large dowry. Hortensio and "the widow" were both rather wealthy, thus both got some extra financial backing from the other. Hortensio states his intentions when he says, "I will be married to a wealthy widow," [IV:ii:37]. Lucentio and Bianca are less in

Kate's resistance however was well warranted. Petruchio's marriage proposal, like all of the others, came suddenly and hastily. The same day Petruchio meets Kate, he tells her they are to be married Sunday [II:i:300]. This hastiness and sudden demanding nature could harm some couples, but Kate and Petruchio both see something in the other that they like; something mirroring themselves. Kate and Petruchio both see someone to equal their own feistiness, and while they do not admit it, they find that alluring. This hastiness, however, does not seem to aid the other couples in their relationships. Logic dictates that there be a reasonable period of getting to know someone before marrying them. Marriage is a rather large step. Lucentio and Bianca elope as soon as they can though, and after a brief explanation the fathers seem bizarrely pleased [V:i:100]. This hasty marriage will not, however, bring happiness in the future. Hortensio and "the widow" also wed very hastily, as in act 4, scene 2, he professes his intentions to wed, and by act 5 Hortensio and "the widow" are married. The speed with which these couple were married is not usually the best course of action, as it may cause problems later. The speed seems to help Petruchio and Kate get along however, as it reinforces the sense of it being just the two of them in a world in which they don't belong, and does not allow the little things which would normally appall and frighten someone off get between them.

Petruchio and Kate's relationship is the only one in this play which I feel would withstand the test of time. This couple seems to t

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Approximate Word count = 1077
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels