The Taming of the Shrew discussion

Why do you think that Shakespeare builds Petruchio up to be someone who only cares about him and dowries(money), and in act five he genuinely falls in love with Kate? Ultimatly how does this affect the plot?

I never got the idea that Petruchio fell in love with Kate. She obviously fell in love with him. As a consequence, he got a subdued, compliant woman who would do whatever he asked her to do.

I offer this idea as a possibility, not an answer!-

It is human nature to want someone to love and have someone love us. A strong character needs a strong character back, otherwise you have 2 unequal people. One sure to be bored!
Such strong willed people as Kate may be beaten down for a short while, but it is my belief that it does not last! She may be compliant in public as love asks and 'duty' demands, but I bet you after the first glow of love wears off, the strong woman emerges again.
What do you think?

When I saw this play as a teenager, the cast explained that they could play it two different ways at the end, that Kate became compliant or pretended to become compliant. The words were the same but how the characters behaved on stage changed the emphasis. The cast felt, in this day and age, Kate wouldn't be so easily broken.

Petruchio was up for the challenge, the game. And in Kate he found a woman who was equal to it.

He was clever and saw value mostly in money and not love itself, so it's likely he didn't love Kate to begin with. He was only interested in breaking her spirit.

It's nice,comic and this is what he meant and wrote a "Comedy Play"