How is the character of Petruchio presented by Shakespeare in The Taming of the Shrew?

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How is the character of Petruchio presented 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 her.  He hasn’t seen her, in fact all he knows about her is that she is horribly ill tempered, yet all he is appears to be interested in is her money.  He is quite specific in his affirmation of his purpose to get married to a wealthy woman.  According to him it does not matter what she looks like or how she is reputed to behave and he uses examples of ugly, old, bad-tempered women from Greek mythology to emphasise his point.  As far marriage is concerned, Petruchio states that:

 “If wealthily, then happily in Padua.”

                                        (Act 1, Scene 2, line 73)

Indeed when Hortensio says;

I would not wed her for a mine of gold”,

                                        (Act 1, Scene 2, line 88)

Petruchio replies;

Hortensio, peace.  Thou know’st not gold’s effect”                 (Act 1, Scene 2, line 89).  

He goes on to confidently predict:

 “For I will board her though she chide as loud As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.”

(Act 1, Scene 1, lines 91/92).  

This unfavourable impression is reinforced by his servant Grumio, who comments that Katherina’s scolding will have little effect on Petruchio, but rather encourage him to scold her back in such a way as to force her to ‘shield her claws’.

“…She may perhaps call him half a score knaves or so – why, that’s nothing.  And he begin once, he’ll rail in his rope-tricks.  I’ll tell you what, sir, and she stand him but a little, he will throw a figure in her face and so disfigure her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat.”

                                                (Act 1, Scene 2, lines 105-109)

Is Petruchio a ‘fortune hunter’ and therefore to be disparaged, as compared to Lucentio who wants to marry for romantic reasons?  This would be an unfair criticism of him.  In the context of Elizabethan times, marriage was often used for financial gain.  In her critical analysis of the play, Stevie Davies comments:

“…Elizabethan marriage was still conducted on the policy of material gain, with bargains struck between parents and suitors so as to benefit each party, without reference to the young woman’s desires or affections.”  (The Taming of the Shrew, Stevie Davies, P.9, Penguin Books, 1995)

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Shakespeare has introduced his audience to a character who is forthright, purposeful, strong and determined, more than equal to the challenge of taming Katherina.

The strength and determination of Petruchio are further enforced when he is introduced to Gremio and Lucentio, the suitors of Bianca.  These men are delighted that Hortensio has found someone to take on the shrew, but Gremio wonders if Petruchio has been told all Katherina’s faults.  His reply shows his confidence.

“I know she is an irksome, brawling scold.  

If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.”

 (Act 1, Scene 2, ...

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