The Presentation of Petruchio by Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew

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The Presentation of Petruchio by Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew

In addition to being the title of one of Shakespeare's earliest

comedies, The Taming of the Shrew was also the self appointed role and

paramount purpose of one of it's main characters, Petruchio.

Shakespeare presents this central character in a variety of ways and

care must be taken so that early unfavourable impressions of Petruchio

may not be misleading. What did Shakespeare want his audience to think

about this 'apparent' fortune hunter? Is this man from Verona a

heartless tyrant or just a strongly masculine figure, confident but

perceptive, who has met his equal in the feisty Katherina?

The plot has been revealed in Scene 1 for Bianca's would-be suitors to

find a husband for Katherina. Petruchio is introduced in Act 1 Scene

2, in a humorous way. Upon arriving at the house of his friend

Hortensio, he orders his servant Grumio to knock the door. His servant

makes great jest using a pun on the word 'knock' (which also means to

hit someone), deliberately misinterpreting his master. This angers

Petruchio who becomes impatient and wrings his ears causing Hortensio

to intervene to calm the situation. Shakespeare gives an immediate

impression of Petruchio as someone who is impatient and doesn't suffer

fools gladly. He will not hold back but strikes out when riled.

Petruchio furthers this impression of himself as a ruthless character

when he reveals his purpose for being in Padua is:

"Happily to wive and thrive as best I may".

(Act 1, Scene 2, line 53)

On hearing about 'a shrewd ill-favoured' heiress called Katherina from

Hortensio, he determines to marry h...

... middle of paper ...

...telligent man with exceptional

language skills, using metaphors, pun and poetry, but more

importantly, he presents him as the only possible person who could

have taken on the role of taming Katherina, using masculine strength

and aggression on occasion - yes, but showing perceptiveness and above

all outrageous humour. The watching audience would have been

thoroughly entertained.

BIBLIOGRAPY

The Taming of the Shrew Stevie Davies, Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.

The Taming of the Shrew, Monarch Notes and Study Guides, Margaret L.

Ranald, Monarch Press, 1965.

The Taming of the Shrew, York Notes Advanced, Rebecca Warren, York

Press, 2000.

The Taming of the Shrew, Notes, Salibelle Royster, Coles Publishing

Company Limited, 1964.

The Taming of the Shrew, Brodie's Notes, T.W. Smith, Pan Books Ltd,

1986.

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