Taken Prisoner

One central theme in Taming of the Shrew would be how male dominance affects a woman’s volition over time. This is seen through how Petruchio had to toil to tame Katherine. At first Katherine was very strong-willed and tenacious. Over time, Petruchio starved her, deprived her of sleep, and deceived her. As she grew more and more submissive, she began to give in. His ‘taming’ weakened her resolve to stay strong and defiant. This is like how when people are taken captive, they are helpless and deprived until the give in and give information.

~Sydney Bates~