Taming of the Shrew 4

Petruchio
..."But for my bonny Kate, she must be with me...
She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house,
My household stuff, my field, my barn...
my anything, Touch her whoever dare..."
Act 3 Scence 2

In this speech, Shakespeare uses ironic diction to describe Kate and Petruchio's relationship and Petruchio's relationship with the people. Shakespeare says that Kate is Petruchio's "property", but then says "touch her whoever dare". This is ironic in that Shakespeare takes up five lines explaining to the audience that Kate was now Petruchio's property and how important it is for Kate to be with him, and then tells the men of Padua that it is okay if they want to be with her as well.

This speech also gives the audience a sense of what kind of character Petruchio is. I think that I figured out that Petruchio will be able to truely tame Kate by the end of the play. He is the hero of the story.

I am enjoying this play and cannot wait to finish it!

-Sarah