Patrick is the film adaptation of Shakespeare's character Petruccio of Taming of the Shrew. It must be mentioned, that The Taming of the Shrew was written in the Elizabethan Era in England at a time when men were considered to be superior to women. Consequently characters in plays at that time reflected this idea. Thus it can be said that their are similarities between both characters such as the fact that like Petruccio, Patrick has a mysterious and somewhat mythic background; he is rumored to have eaten a live duck and to have spent the last year in prison. Furthermore both characters make their intentions very clear from the start about marrying/dating Kate and this characteristic of self confidence and straightforwardness is carried on
