The Taming of the Shrew

Usually, I can deal with Shakespeare and this play was no exception. It was a little strange how he tied the beginning part with Sly into the rest of the actual play, and I don't understand why there was no final dialogue explaining what happened after the play ended. Did Sly eventually realize he wasn't a lord? Or did they just keep the charade up and cause him to go into eternal confusion?

Besides that point, I enjoyed the actual play. It seems like Shakespeare often uses the comparison of the shy, gentle young woman to the harsh, quick-witted young woman in his comedies. I could see it in this play with Bianca and Katherina and also in Much Ado About Nothing with Hero and Beatrice. It was interesting how he contrasted the two women and still ensured that they both had a husband.

I thought it was strange how there was no explanation as to why Petruchio arrived late to his own wedding dressed in suspicious clothing and just decided to whisk Katherina away. I understand that the point was for him to "tame" her, but I still don't know why his personality changed all of a sudden before the wedding. Maybe it was because he realized the consequences of his soon-to-be marriage?

I think overall the play fulfilled its purpose as a comedy to entertain the reader, and I understood mostly every aspect of the plot line (surprisingly since it was Shakespeare).