Multiple Heroes in The Taming of the Shrew
            
             Throughout Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, it is easy to see that a great
             responsibility is put on Petruchio for his efforts in having to tame the shrew, Katherine.
             With this responsibility also came admiration when his goal was finally achieved. Because
             of this admiration for taming a shrew, Petruchio is the character most looked upon as a
             "hero" in this play. However, I believe that although Petruchio can be looked upon as a
             hero, Katherine and Bianca also have good arguments as to how they are heroes also
             because of the drastic ways they changed as people. In my eyes, The Taming of the
             Shrew has more than one hero, in fact, there are multiple heroes.
             The most obvious hero in this Shakespearean play is Petruchio. Petruchio, upon
             setting foot in Padua, has announced that he has come "Happily to wive and thrive as best
             I may" (Dolan 63). He is looking for a wife, and feels like he has much to offer.
             Hortensio jokingly tells Petruchio about Katherine, the shrew, which immediately sparks
             Petruchio's interest in the wealthy, fiery woman. After Petruchio and Katherine's first
             meeting in Act II, Scene I, Petruchio says this: "For I am he born to tame you, Kate, And
             bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate Comformable as other household Kates....I must and
             will have Katharine to my wife" (Dolan 83). This is where the story begins.
             When the story comes to an end, in the last few scenes, it is obvious that Katherine
             has now been tamed. Petruchio has accomplished what he has set out to do by taming her
             the way he would tame a pet falcon. He says in Act IV, Scene 1, in reference to treating
             her like a falcon, "This is the way to kill a wife with kindness; And thus I'll curb her mad
             and headstrong humor. He that knows better how to tame a shrew, Now let him speak.
             'Tis charity to show" (Dolan 107). By starving Katherine, not letting her sleep, and
             torturin...