The outdated themes of The Taming of the ShrewThe play The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's comedies. It depicts the humorous events concerning the costume of Kate, a shrew living in the town of Padua. It presents many ideas about love and marriage that don't quite fit our current views and what we know about relationships. It can be argued that the comedy of the play makes it universal, but it contains certain themes that will not be received in the same light as in Shakespeare's time. Comedy still remains largely universal. The visual comedy of the play, such as Kate falling from her horse into the mud, is still universally appealing. The comedy of actions is also just as universal. For example, Petruchio's actions would be just as humorous today as they were in Shakespeare's time. But the situations that arise from her actions are sometimes debatable as to whether they are humorous or border on misplaced disrespect toward Kate or women in general. The majority of the play is universal, but I think the major themes put forward by the play are a bit outdated and lacking in respect. The major theme is represented by the attitude towards marriage shown in Petruchio and Kate's relationship. First, the relationship began entirely against the wife's wishes and for the financial benefit of the husband, with no loving intention. This is especially seen when Kate walks on the roof of her father's house. The first thing Petruchio does is express his concerns about losing not Kate, but his "20 thousand crowns", which had been promised to him if he married Kate. Petruchio used his wife only as a stepping stone, and later, after "taming" her, he used her as a status symbol. Her method of “taming” her was repressive and locked her in a position she did not willingly want to be in. After being tamed, she stopped talking honestly about her feelings and apprehensions and repressed them. In a relationship, the second most important thing is being able to openly share and reveal your feelings, which is not what the drama of this play shows. In the play, Kate is forced to suppress her feelings just to get food or to be able to visit her friends and family. Petruchio “tames” Kate by rewarding her for her obedience and punishing her when she disagrees with him..