The values in Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew are still evident in the teenflick 10 Things I Hate About You. There are three core values – the importance of marriage for love rather than convenience; the role of patriarchy in social structure; and the importance of money and social status. Similarities can be drawn between Shakespeare's play and the modern film; however some issues have changed due to the difference in context and audience.
             In The Taming of the Shrew marriage is a key value because it ensures security; therefore boyfriend-girlfriend relationships are practically unheard of and non-existent. Through his characters Shakespeare portrays marriage as an economic institution; love comes second to wealth and status. 10 Things I Hate About You depicts boyfriend-girlfriend relationships as important due to the 20th Century context and the teenage audience. These relationships are the equivalent of marriage in The Taming of the Shrew. Unlike The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You shows sex as the essence of relationships this is also linked to the fact that relationships lead to acceptance in 20th Century society.
             Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew believes that marriage is important, and contrary to the values of the time she marries Lucentio for love (although Lucentio is given permission to marry her only after he is able to convince Baptista that he is very rich. Had Hortensio offered more money, Hortensio would have married Bianca, regardless of whether she loved Lucentio). Baptista believes that it is his right and duty to give his daughters to men for courting and marriage, "...Not to bestow my youngest daughter/Before I have a husband for the elder." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 50-51), "Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 54). Baptista sees Bianca as a prize rather than a human being and he clearly sees marriage as an economi...