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Petruchio Character Analysis
Petruchio is debatably the most complex character in The Taming of the Shrew. His motives can be interpreted in several different lights, each interpretation entirely changing the tone of the play. One popular opinion is that Petruchio is, for the most part, a selfish misogynist determined to tame Katherine for his own convenience and pride. In this interpretation, Petruchio marries Kate solely for her dowry. The counterargument is that Petruchio develops a soft spot for Katherine and tames her because he sees her shrewishness as a condition that needs to be cured by a man. Regardless, Petruchio seems to believe, like most men did at the time, that society most stable if women are submissive to their husbands. There is also some debate about how seriously we should take Petruchio, and hence how we should interpret the meaning of the play. His ridiculous actions, including his unconventional attire at his wedding and his treatment of Katherine post-wedding, are sometimes viewed as a reflection of his descent into madness. On the other hand, some see Petruchio as the fool of the play and attribute his actions to comic relief. Petruchio's character is very powerful in that the light in which we view him can change the play from a dark story of male domination to absurdist comedy.