The Taming of the Shrew: Parralell Contrast

A detailed Summary of The Taming of the Shrew: Parralell Contrast

Throughout Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, parallel themes shoot out at the reader. The themes develop in two separate plotlines, in which Shakespeare expresses his conflicting views on the subjects. Even though Lucentio and Bianca's relationship is quite different from Kate and Petruchio's, they share similar issues. The three themes common to these two affairs are love, marriage, and change.

Love is a theme interpreted quite differently by each couple. To Petruchio and Kate, love is a mutual respect for each other and is hard to see at first. Kate shows her love to her husband after learning to respect him, "And craves no other tribute at thy hangs / Buy love, fair looks, and true obedience: / Too little payment for so great a debt" (Taming of the Shrew 5.2.152-154). Through Kate, Shakespeare shows love is a matter of respect and is owed to a husband for all his duties. Love is shown in a different light to Lucentio and Bianca though:

Lucentio. I read that I profess, the Art to Love.

Bianca. And may you prove, sir, master of your art.

Lucentio. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.

As one can tell through outside testimonies, Kate was not happy with her sudden marriage at first, and Petruchio did this specifically to begin his game of taming. Lucentio had a strange wedding as well, but for different reasons, "Here's Lucentio, ... That have by marriage made thy daughter mine / While counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne" (5.1.112-115). This shows how Lucentio's marriage was strange and semi deceitful, but was not full of rage like Petruchio and Kate's. Petruchio saw marriage as a stepping stone in his quest to "tame the shrew" so he didn't mind an unhappy start. He tells himself his plan before he meets with Kate, "If she deny to wed, I'll crave the day / When I shall ask the banns and when be married" (2.2.179-180). By planning on marriage before love, Petruchio is able to woo his wife with no worry of her leaving him. Lucentio decides to woo Bianca before marriage, because he sees marriage as the final step to the relationship. But he and Petruchio soon discover changes in their wives after the marriages.

Gremio. I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated. (3.2.241-245)

Bianca. Fie, what a foolish-duty call you this?

Gremio. Went they not quick

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Approximate Word count = 798
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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