In Act Three, scene two, of Shakespeare's The
Taming of the Shrew, I believe that Petruchio arrives to his wedding in old
clothes for several reasons, all of which center around Kate and her
attitude.
Kate is used to getting her own way. She has a
well-known reputation of being a brat. It is in this way that she exerts her control
over not just the family in general, but also over her sister who cannot marry until
Kate is married. Who, then, would be brave enough to want to marry Kate? She can remain
single as long as she wishes. Kate believes that she can control
any man. Petruchio's word play with Kate has probably impressed
her, but she is not ready to give up the power she has for a man. She seems comfortable
with her situation in that she also doesn't seem to mind that she is called a "shrew."
It is, after all, on her terms that she lives her
life.
By coming to the wedding in awful clothes, Petruchio
is first doing something that Kate would not expect—perhaps sending her a "wake-up
call." She does have her pride. We see this when she begins to cry,
believing that Petruchio has left her at the alter at the beginning of the scene. She
will expect him to come nicely dressed for her sake...because it's
what she wants.
Petruchio is showing
Kate that he will not bow to anyone's expectations, and he explains to the men who greet
him when he arrives that Kate is not marrying his clothes, but the man
in the clothes.
To me she's married, not unto my clothes...
(112)
Finally, I believe that
Petruchio is sending Kate the message that he is his own man. He is not afraid of her,
neither will he be intimidated by her as so many men before him have been. He is letting
Kate know that he is the boss, without saying a
word.
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