The Shrew
Of course, the most prominent metaphor throughout the play is the likening of Kate to a shrew. Characters use this comparison as an insult for notoriously "difficult" women. A shrew is a small, mole-like animal that are surprisingly feisty and even, at times, ferocious. In comparing Kate to a shrew, the men of the play emphasize her predilection for rebelling against social norms. When Petruchio "tames" Kate, he returns her to the status of civilized, ideal woman. The play is rife with other comparisons between people and wild animals, underscoring its interest in what social relationships, gender dynamics, and power.
Bird of Prey
In another animal metaphor, Petruchio compares Kate to a bird of prey, a falcon. He explains that he will tame Kate using traditional methods associated with falconry, a popular sport in early modern England. By likening Kate to a falcon, Petruchio emphasizes her "wildness" while at the same time places himself in a position of control over her, saying that he will not give up until she bends to his will.
Marriage and Politics
As he enters his marriage with Kate, Petruchio uses a metaphor to describe his perception of the marriage bond. He says, "Thus have I politically begun my reign, / And 'tis my hope to end successfully" (4.1). In this metaphor, Petruchio compares marriage to the dynamic between a ruler and their subjects, demanding absolute obedience and ownership of his wife. While England was a monarchy, many believed that the relationship between subjects and the king or queen was more nuanced, and Petruchio here reveals himself as someone who thinks in terms of absolute power.
Petruchio's Plan
When Petruchio schemes to find himself a wealthy wife, he uses a series of similes to explain what he is looking for. He says, "As wealth is burden of my wooing dance— / Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love, / As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd As Socrates’ Xanthippe or a worse, / She moves me not" (1.2). Here, Petruchio relies on allusions from antiquity to emphasize that the only thing he cares about when it comes to his future wife is that she has money. This speech showcases Petruchio's perception of women as tools for male social ascent.
The Wasp
When Petruchio and Kate first encounter one another, they engage in a witty exchange in which Petruchio refers to Kate as a wasp. Kate continues the metaphor, warning Petruchio to watch out for her "sting." The exchange soon becomes sexually suggestive at the hands of Petruchio, but it also displays Kate's resilient nature as well as her disregard for the insults lobbed at her in the beginning of the play.
