Petruchio In The Taming Of The Shrew

In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare first introduces Petruchio in 1.2 as he is at the front door of his good friend Hortensio with his servant Grumio. From the beginning, Petruchio can be seen as a dominant character as he was bickering with Grumio calling him a villain and threatening him by saying “... I’ll knock your knave’s pate” (1.2.10). Petruchio continues to display his brazen and controlling attributes throughout the play and until the end of the play making him a static character.
As the plot goes on, readers will be able to recognize that Petruchio’s morals arise for wealth and power. One of Petruchio’s most significant lines from the play occurred when he was asking Hortensio to help him find a wife in Padua, “I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; / If wealthily, then happily in Padua” (1.2.61-62). The fact that he does not care about who he will marry and is only concerned with how much her family can offer as a dowry, demonstrates how his character is blinded by riches and overlooks the true meaning of marriage. …show more content…
While everyone is gathered at Lucentio house, confident Petruchio suggest a bet with the other gentlemen to see whose wife shall come to their husband’s command first. Of course the bet involved money, Petruchio’s greed for money agreed to a hundred crowns. When the wives of Hortensio and Lucentio do not present themselves, Petruchio provokes them by mocking the two. When Katherine showed up from Petruchio’s request, Petruchio made sure to capture everyone’s attention by showing off Katherine’s obedience. He couldn’t have accepted his prize discreetly, he selfishly aimed for more attention and wealth, “Nay, I will win my wager better yet, / And show more sign of her obedience, / Her new-built virtue and obedience” (5.2.125-7). Petruchio persistently boast about his power over Katherine and abusing that power to gain more