Taming of the Shrew-Passage Analysis

Petruchio is desperately trying to break Kate and have her conform to society's standards of what a woman and wife should be; and, the scene where Katherine and Petruchio are riding into town and he is trying to convince her the bright sun they see is actually the moon is humorous but also alarming.

At first, Katherine argues with Petruchio; making her claim that the reason it is difficult to see into the horizon is because of the brilliant sun, but then Petruchio counters with the moon being the cause for their blindness. Petruchio is unrelenting with his claim, and does not withdraw his statements even when she attempts at making an argument. He belittles her, is condescending, and does not allow her to finish her thoughts because of his reiteration of the moon being present.

Petruchio's stubbornness is comical because he is mirroring the way in which Kate would act; she had the tendency to take the opposite stance regarding issues just to be difficult with her peers, especially men. Petruchio follows Kate's lead and eventually Kate surrenders and calls the sun the moon, which causes Petruchio to recant his original statement and he decides that the moon is actually the sun and Katherine is a liar.

Katherine is being broken by Petruchio and although the scene is quite funny with the way in which Shakespeare writes it-it's witty and quick-its message is anything but endearing. This man's only goal is to suppress this woman's wild and free spirit so she becomes an obeying and obedient housewife. He is not interested in the well-being of her, he is motivated by the idea of conquering her and being the one man that was capable of changing her.

Petruchio never physically abuses Katherine, but mentally she is affected by his methods. During Shakespeare's era it was acceptable for men to abuse their wives, it was the man's responsibility to keep his woman in line, so Petruchio's actions are not deemed inappropriate because he is fulfilling his role in society.

A person trying to change someone to make them better in the long run is respectable, but trying to change someone so they can meet the criteria for conforming within society is discouraging. I'm not saying all of Kate's traits were of the highest standards, or that Petruchio was the root of all evil, but the idea that a woman has to change because she does not fit the mold of what is acceptable is ridiculous.