The Taming Of The Shrew Play, Original And Modern English Translation
Different Ways To Read The Complete Play Online
He's one of those characters that pops up in Jeopardy clues. He's a character that once you know what he is about and what he did, you never forget. He's a character with such an ear-grating harsh name that suits him so perfectly, and the mention of him makes me want to bash his smug face in with a brick!
He is none other than Petruchio from Shakespeare's "play "The Taming Of The Shrew"
Petruchio, Trepukio! Oh, how I hate this character!
The name is only the shell on this rotten egg. You know it takes much more than just a nails-on-chalkboard name to make me this worked up.
I studied the play on my own in high school, and though I didn't understand a lot of Shakespearian English, I understood enough of it to get the basics. I've hated Petruchio (dubbed "Trepukio" or abbreviated to "Truke") ever since!
Petruchio is a mouthy, brawling drunken slob, and those are his best traits.
Petruchio is a greedy, power-hungry tramp who thinks he's God's gift to humanity. His ego knows no bounds.
Petruchio is a dominator, kidnapper and torturer. He is a sex-fiend and a violent rage-oholic.
Truke believes all humanity is beneath him, especially women. He bosses Katherine around and sets her against other people so he can crow about what an obedient wife he has while getting off on her tongue-lashing other women about "their place" because it isn't really her, it's him speaking through her. It gives him a rush to have this kind of perverse power over another human being, and he simply gets off watching women fight..
To get the tempestuous Katherine to this lowly state, Truke told lies to get her father's permission to marry her - against her will. He humiliated Katherine by showing up late to his and Katherine's wedding, then when he did show up, he was a complete obnoxious embarrassment.
Truke then rushed Katherine off to his country house, didn't help her when she fell off and underneath a stumbling horse, because he was too busy having fun beating up his servant to notice or care.
Once they arrived at his house, Truke screamed at the servants and beat them, then told Katherine to enjoy herself in the very next breath. He threw dishes and food around like a mad chimpanzee.
For the next few or several days, Petruchio starved and deprived Katherine of sleep, made her grovel for food and give thanks to him before she was even allowed to touch it, then he took it away again!
He screamed at her and threw the bedding around whenever she would begin nodding off.
When her outfit for her sister's wedding arrived, Truke screamed at the tailor and ordered it sent back, because old clothes would do nicely, according to him, and this is after Katherine expressed a definite liking for the outfit.
And he did all of this under the pretence of "love".
BULL!
Petruchio forced his household on foot to Bianca's wedding, but turned back every time Katherine said anything that displeased him, even if it was true. He made her submit to him to the point where if Truke said "moon" Katherine was not allowed to say "sun" or he would turn around and head back home to start all over again. He made her call an old man a young maid, then scolded her for it right in front of him, made her apologize for 'her stupidity' and from then on, she did *EXACTLY* what he commanded her to do and nothing else!
*Furious scowl*
And the brute just - never - stops - running - his - mouth! He just goes on and on and on - AND - ON - and shut up already!
Now, here's where I chime in.
Highlights With Comments From Ocean Elf
There will eventually be a foe fiction, and when it is written, I'll put the link here.
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