The taming of the shrewDeceit
.... Sly is not the only one who is deceitful within the Introduction. The Lord and his servants have also deceived Sly through the use of disguise. The Lord has done this by forcing Sly to live a life where he is a nobleman, with all the luxuries included. As soon as Sly awoke they began filling his head with fantasies and insisting that he was a wealthy nobleman. Sly was offered the best of foods and the finest of clothing in order to further this deception and make him truly believe that he is a wealthy Lord with a wife. The sub plot of the play involves Bianca and her suitors. This play-within a play is taken place in Padua, Italy. Lucentio, a young gentleman from Verona arrives accompanied by his servant when he notices Baptista Minola and his two young daughters Bianca and her older sister Kate. Bianca’s suitors Gremio and Hortensio accompany them. While standing in the street, Lucentio over hears Baptista say that no one will marry Bianca, until Kate has found a suitor. “That is, not bestow my youngest daughter, before I have a husband for the elder” By this point Lucentio has become totally enamored with Bianca and he devises a plan to get closer to Bianca. Lucentio is to disguise himself as a tutor named Cambio while Tranio pretends to be Lucentio. It is obvious that this is an element of deception. Lucentio and Tranio have purposely disguised themselves in order to deceive Kate, Bianca, Baptista and the other suitors. They have used different clothing in order to accomplish this. This deception is not complete though because Tranio can not look exactly like Lucentio. This is where the third, and main plot of the play begins. Bianca’s suitors realize that they will not be able to ask for her hand unless they find a suitable suitor for her stubborn shrewish sister Kate. Petruchio, also from Verona, has arrived in Padua for one sole reason. To find himself a wife whom does a large dowry accompany, in modern words he wants a dirty rich wife. He does not care if she is a shrew or not. Hortensio, another gentlemen also in want of Bianca’s hand, agrees to introduce Petruchio to Kate. All three men, Hortensio, Gremio and Lucentio (posing as Tranio) agree to assist him in gaining access to the older daughter. Petruchio goes directly to Baptista, he is completely upfront with his intentions. He tells Baptista that he’s wealthy and Baptista welcomes Petruchio’s offer. But Petruchio must first win Kate’s love. Petruchio is confident that he can do so. When Petruchio and Kate first meet, they flirt and take it in turns in verbally challenging each other. Kate continues to act shrewish and Petruchio claims that Kate is in love with him. The wedding plans begin and Bianca’s suitors move in. Tranio/Lucentio promises enormous riches for Bianca, but Baptista wishes to meet Tranio/Lucentio’s father in order to confirm this. Therefore Tranio/Lucentio must find a suitable man to pose as “Vincentio.” The disguise and deception falls deeper and deeper as the plot continues. Not only do these young gentleman have to act as if they were someone else, but now Tranio/Lucentio must find another gentleman to act as his father in order for him to have Bianca’s hand. The whole wedding party has gathered for the event, except for the groom. Kate begins to show signs of humiliation. “Now must the world point at poor Katherine, And say, 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife, If it would please him come and marry her!'” This is significant as it is the first time we, the audience, see Kate showing any signs of emotion. Before she had been stoic and showed very little emotion. When Petruchio eventually decides to make an appearance, his dress and behavior are both outrageous. Petruchio is dressed in rags and comes in on an old nag. Baptista objects to this and Petruchio replies that “To me she's married, not unto my clothes…” and then proceeds to take Kate off to the wedding. It seems that Petruchio’s state of mind has reversed. Previously he has been honest and upfront in his actions. Now he deceiving Kate by playing games and acting like someone he isn’t’. He uses disguise to emphasize the fact that Kate is here to marry him, and not his clothing. Once the wedding ceremony is completed Petruchio will not allow Kate to stay for the wedding feast. Instead, despite her protests, he drags her from her father’s house. The journey from Baptista’s to Petruchio’s house is not a pleasant one. The couple arrives tired, dirty, cold and hungry. Petruchio temps Kate with the finest of foods, but Petruchio is outraged and claims that the supper is unfit saying: 'Tis burnt; and so is all the meat. What dogs are these! Where is the rascal cook? How durst you, villains, bring it from the dresser, And serve it thus to me that love it not? Theretake it to you, trenchers, cups, and all;”. He decides the pair will fast, and they pack up and go to bed. It is at this point that Petruchio admits he is going to tame his new wife like a falcon. He plans to deprive her of sleep, food and sex and claims he will be doing this all in loving care. Therefore “killing her with kindness.” Petruchio has risen up to the challenge and begins acting as a reflection of Kate. He is rude, stubborn and willful, all the characteristics Katerina once possessed. He has in turn, deceived Kate by not acting him self, rather someone he certainly is not. This is more like obedience trai...