Throughout Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, parallel themes shoot out at the reader. The themes develop in two separate plotlines, in which Shakespeare expresses his conflicting views on the subjects. Even though Lucentio and Bianca's relationship is quite different from Kate and Petruchio's, they share similar issues. The three themes common to these two affairs are love, marriage, and change.
             Love is a theme interpreted quite differently by each couple. To Petruchio and Kate, love is a mutual respect for each other and is hard to see at first. Kate shows her love to her husband after learning to respect him, "And craves no other tribute at thy hangs Buy love, fair looks, and true obedience: Too little payment for so great a debt" (Taming of the Shrew 5.2.152-154). Through Kate, Shakespeare shows love is a matter of respect and is owed to a husband for all his duties. Love is shown in a different light to Lucentio and Bianca though:
             Lucentio. I read that I profess, the Art to Love.
             Bianca. And may you prove, sir, master of your art.
             Lucentio. While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart.
             Lucentio and Bianca's relationship shows that their love is more of a physical nature, rather than the respect driven love of Kate. Love at first sight was a driving reason Lucentio loved Bianca, but there was none present in Petruchio and Kate's situation, "Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl" (1.1.155-156). By basing affection on a first impression, Lucentio doesn't bother with talking with her before he loves her. Due to the fact that love was based on appearance to Lucentio, and thus in the end, his marriage was not as happy as Petruchio's.
             Marriage is shown in different respects for each couple as well. For both groups, the marriage ceremonies were quite unorthodox:
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