* AbuseIsOkayWhenItIsFemaleOnMale: Am I the only Troper in the Queen's Commonwealth who notices that Kate is an abusive--oh, I don't know--'''shrew''' who binds her sister and whips her, throws things at complete strangers for reasons ranging from, "I don't like the song you played." to "You looked at my sister first." and is generally an unpleasant person to be around. Every scene of Petruchio pretending to throw a fit is an exact mirror of Kate's terrible rage, no different than [[AChristmasCarol the Ghost of Christmas Present repeating Ebenezer Scrooge's cold words back to him]], but when he gives her her just desserts, it is sexist?!
** A person being abusive doesn't give others license to abuse them. Abuse is never justified. Whether his treatment is sexist or not, it's still a man abusing his wife. One can argue Kate deserved to be punished, that Bianca and her father deserved protection, and that Kate might be able to be rehabilitated without condoning Petruchio's actions. 
** The Wife Beater Beater trope (which most people in real life seem to have no problem with) is completely built on the idea that abusers deserve to be abused. I agree with the original poster, the way Kate treated people was disgusting (that scene were Kate strips, ties ups, and beats her younger sister was down right disturbing). It doesn't really make sense for Kate to be allowed to treat everyone around her like dirt with no repercussions. 
* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: There is a theory that Kate doesn't genuinely submit to Petruchio but is putting on an act and merely becomes shrewd to get her way with her husband. Supporting this is how Kate doesn't gradually become submissive but, almost in exasperation, just starts agreeing with him in a completely unrealistic way, and [[YamatoNadeshiko this behavior gets Petruchio to do what]] ''she'' wants. (Thus learning the very lesson he's trying to teach: one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar.)

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24th Jul '12 1:59:31 PM PsiBasilisk

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7th Jun '12 9:50:37 AM LancelotG

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3rd Jun '12 1:09:35 PM LancelotG

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