Petruchio's Disguise and Identity

Petruchio's Disguise and Identity There are many reasons for Shakespeare using devices of disguise and altered identities in his plays. In fact in a great number of his plays disguise plays an integral role. A character"'"s purpose for disguising themselves may be to help or hinder other characters, to reveal truths, or perhaps simply for comedy. For Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew it can be all of these, and helps us …

…mpliment each other perfectly. I do not believe Shakespeare would have made them so, if he hadn"'"t meant for them to be so in love with each other, and good for each other. The device of disguise and altered identities enabled him to make their courtship work. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. '"'The Taming of the Shrew.'"' The Riverside Shakespeare Second Edition. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. 142-171.