The Taming Of The Shrew

3 Pages 715 Words

taming of the shrew analysis

Petruchio: “Even in these honest mean habiliments. Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor: For ‘tis the mind that makes the body rich; and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, so honour peereth in the meanest habit. What, is the jay more precious than the lark because his feather are more beautiful? Or is the adder better than the eel because his feathers are more beautiful? Or is the adder better than the eel because his painted skin contents the eye? O, no, good Kate; neither art thou the worse for this poor furniture and mean array. If thou account’st it shame, lay it on me; and therefore frolic; we will hence forthwith, to feast and sport us at thy father’s house.”

The above passage, spoken by Petruchio at the end of scene three, does an excellent job of summarizing the theme of the entire play. The youngest sister, Bianca, is the most beautiful and the most sought after daughter in Baptista’s household. Through all the intricate plots that her suitors have, she is almost sure to choose the one whom she loves the most and therefore live happily ever after. Katherina, the so-called shrew and antagonist of the play, is publicly known as a vile woman who is the least likely to find a suitor, and almost certainly not love. However, all things change when Petruchio, the down on his luck noble and protagonist, comes along and finds his equal in whit and intellect.
In an analysis of Petruchio’s passage we see a different man than that was originally presented to us in the beginning of the play. We see no mention of gaining riches, his purpose for considering wedding her, and in fact he denounces material things. “Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor: For ‘tis the mind that makes the body rich.” In other words: in wearing the ragged clothing that they did, he proves that his purpose is not for money and riches. He is able to see past her dowry and...