Dynamic Characters

While reading the play The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, the audience is able to recognize the fact that most, if not all, of the characters develop in some way throughout the plot. The most apparent of a dynamic characters in the novel would be Petruchio, a young gentleman from Verona who marries the shrew of the story, Katherine Minola. The reader is able to clearly identify the changes in Petruchio as the plot progresses. The reader is able to see Petruchio change from having a love of money, to an attraction to Katherine and her strong nature, and eventually a strong love for Katherine.

When Petruchio makes his first appearance to the reader, it is clear that he only has one thing on his mind, and love is not it. All his attention is focused on finding a woman who has a rich father , which was a qualification that Katherine met. He chose to marry her, despite her reputation as a shrew and the warnings from other men. He even believed he could tame Katherine and tutored other men on how to tame their own wives. The only positive aspect about Petruchio at this point is his honesty; unlike some other characters, he openly admits that money is virtually the only thing he loves and cares about. This is evident by his speech:

Signior Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife, As wealth is burden of my wooing dance, Be she as foul as was Florentius' love, As old as Sibyl and as curst and shrewd As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse, She moves me not, or not removes, at least, Affection's edge in me, were she as rough As are the swelling Adriatic seas: I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happ...

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...u two are sped. 'Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white, And, being a winner, God give you good night(5.2.195-197)! The way in which Petruchio speaks has even developed into a softer, kinder, and more grateful tone.

When looking back at what one has read in the novel, he or she is able to identify the fact that Petruchio had changed drastically from a man who cares only about money into a man who cares about love. Both Katherine and Petruchio helped and guided each other in the journey to becoming stronger, more relatable characters. Although most of the characters in this play are dynamic, Petruchio makes the largest transformation which, in turn, makes him a better man for himself, his wife,and his community.

Works Cites

“Petruchio.” Shmoop. n.p, n.d. Web. 21 November 2013.

SparkNotes No Fear Shakespeare. SparkNotes LLC, n.d. Web. 20 November 2013.