Taming of the Shrew One Essay

" (Act II, Scene I, Lines 339-340). He tells them:

"Tis deeds must win the prize; and he of both

That can assure my daughter greatest dower

Shall have my Bianca's love." (Act II, Scene I, Lines 356-358)

Gremmie and Tranio (Lucentio) proclaim their wealth and Gremmie is "…out-vied." (Act II, Scene I, Line 398). Baptist accepts Tranio's (Lucenio's) offer provided his father, Vincentio, can assure that if he dies before his father Bianca still receives her dower, tells them that he can marry her the week after Petruchio and Katherine are married. If not than Germio can have her hand. This presents a problem so Tranio, being a faithful servant, decides to get "…a father call'd 'supposed Vincentio," (Act II, Scene I, Line 422) to make the promise.

It is interesting to note that while Baptist needed no such promise for the hand of Katherine he viewed Bianca as a commodity to be bargained for. He viewed Bianca's hand in marriage as an asset, and Katherine's hand, because of her nature, as a liability.

On the other Petruchio views Katherine as an asset to be protected and fought for if necessary:

"I will be master of what is mine own:

She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,

My household stuff, my field, my barn,

My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;" (Act III, Scene II, Lines 429-432)

When Hortensio finds that he has lost the hand of Bianca to Lucentio, his rival tutor, he decides to take advantage of a rich widow:

"For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,

I will be married to a wealthy widow,

Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me

As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.And so farewell, Signior Lucentio.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,

Shall win my love: and so I take my leave,

In resolution as I swore before."

(Act IV, Scene II, Lines 36-43)

Petruchio and Hortensio married to enhance their social standing. Both choose their brides for practical reasons, their money. Lucentio married for love, but was only allowed to marry by deceiving Baptista into believing that he was wealthier than the other suitors. Had Hortensio had more money, she would have been betrothed to him despite of whether or not she loved him. Baptista saw the marriages of both his daughters as a business transaction.

In last bit of irony the only marriage that seems to be working for any of these couples is the one that looked the least promising at the beginning. While Petruchio and Katherine have adopted roles that are complimentary to each other, Lucentio….....