Essential Question 8

Are Katherine and Petruchio in love?

Katherine and Petruchio's relationship is not rooted in love whatsoever. From the beginning, Petruchio was used to marry Katherine so that Gremio and Hortensio could have a chance to court Bianca. He did not care for love, but for the dowry and monetary benefits he would receive. His only problem was to tame Katherine, and did so by meeting fire with fire. By his actions, Katherine was forced into marriage with Petruchio by her father. This shows the disrespect given towards women. We still do not even know the reason for Katherine's prior aggression because none of the characters allowed Katherine to vent and explain what was on her mind. Now that she was married to Petruchio, she was held in his vise, treating her as if she was crazy or mentally deranged. Katherine was forced to submit to Petruchio's will, a similarity with Grendel's mother from Beowulf, who despised her fate. The greatest example of their relationship having no love can be seen in the final scene. Though Katherine may have been the only obedient wife, she acts this way because she has been forced to sumbit herself to Petruchio's words. As for Petruchio, one has to remember that the husbands all placed bets. As Bianca says, "The more fool you are for laying on my duty" (5.2.143). Betting on love is a complete disrespect to love itself. Petruchio shows he was only it for the money.