Petruchio+(by+Maddie)

Who is Petruchio? Petruchio, along with Katherine, is one of the main characters in the Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio hopes to find and marry and rich woman, and when he comes across the town "shrew", Katherine, her bad temper does not put him off her wealthy dowry. Although, Petruchio does "tame" her. He robs her of food, sleep, and gifts, until she gives in and acts obidient towards him.

Petruchio is not shy about the fact he loves money. He is not fussy with women, the only thing he cares about is if they are rich. He believes that it is the only thing that will provide him a happy life:

//Signor Hortensio,'twich such friends as we// //Few words suffice, and therefore, if thou know// //One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife// //As wealth is burden of my wooing dance// //Be she as foul as Florentius' love// //As old as Sibyl and curst as the shrewd// //As Socrates' Xanthippe, or a worse,// //She moves me not, or not removes, at least// //Affections edge in me, were she as rough// //As are the swelling Adriatic seas:// //I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;// //If wealthily, then happily in Padua.//

Petruchio's references in this speech, such as Florentius, Sibyl, and Xanthippe, show the audience he is well-read and of middle or upper class. He loves language, and Kate's 'acid tongue' is appealing to him.