Is Love a Business or Something More

In the Taming of The Shrew, marriage is treated as a form of business transaction.

Kate’s suitor, Petruchio, only sees this as a way to gain more wealth and land.

In a way it is similar to the Captain in The Sound of Music, who also see marriage as a business transaction. However, even though both Petruchio and the Captain sees marriage as business, the Captain wasn’t always like that.

"I swear I’ll cuff you if you strike again.- Petruchio"

(  Page-91 Act-2 scene-1 line-234)

This was the line that Petruchio said to Kate when he was the one trying to woo her. This line shows that Petruchio will hit back if kate were to hit him again, showing that he have little affection for her. To Petruchio this wedding is only a business trip. Since Kate is slapping Petruchio, it shows that she does not wish to marry him.

Within this scene in the movie Sound of Music, the Captain is going to dance with the Baroness. The Captain is supposed to marry the Baroness do to business reasons even though his kids doesn’t like the baroness, nor does the baroness like the kids. The Baroness said this to the Captain “Darling, haven't you ever heard of a delightful little thing called boarding school?” This shows that the Baroness cares not care for the kids, but unlike kate, the Baroness does like the Captain.

"And, for that dowry, I’ll assure her of her widowhood, be it that she survives me, In all my lands and leases whatsoever. Let specialties be therefore drawn between us, That covenants may be kept on either hand.”

(Act 2, Scene 1, line 130-134)

In this scene Petruchio is talking with Baptista, Kate’s father. After Baptista told Petruchio what he will get for marrying Kate, Petruchio answered with the line above. This exchange is an exchange of goods, not about love at any point.

However, for the Captain is different. Even though he believes marriage is just business now, he used to believe in love.

Here is a scene of Maria and the Captain. As it can clearly be seen, the Captain is embracing Maria. This was an act he did not show to the Baroness for she was not someone the Captain loved. Maria on the other hand was able to make the Captain love again.

Back in the days of the “Taming of the Shrew” marriage is more of a business transaction. The father of the bride gives the groom his inheritance, while the groom guarantees the livelihood of the bride. This requires no love whatsoever.

Now on the other, marriage is more about love then anything else. The Captain rejected to be with the Baroness to go with the person he fell in love with.