Taylor+Tomasco

I Will Win You In Conquest
 Comparing "Taming of the Shrew" to "Made of Honor"

The idea of romance as conquest as well as honesty and loyalty in romance are both present in Shakespeare's "Taming of The Shrew" and in the 2008 movie "Made of Honor." In "Shrew" Petruchio swares to everyone that he will win Katherine no matter what it takes. Her hostility and refusal only makes him more determined to succeed in his conquest. In "Made of Honor" Thomas is just as determined, but his motives are different. Thomas is dealing with a preexisting romance and friendship, while Petruchio doesn't know anything about Katherine other than she is something he wants possession of.



Much like Petruchio, College Tom did not want to date/marry a girl for who they truely are, he talked to them for his own personal benefit. While Petruchio was looking for money, Tom was looking for sex. Little did Tom know, the girl he jumped in bed with by accident during college, would soon be his dearest friend and a huge part of his life.

 After being with Hannah every day of his life since, Tom felt lost without Hannah when she went on vacation to Scotland for 6 weeks, Tom admits it was the worst 6 weeks of his life. During this time Tom reveals to a friend Felix that he has now realized there is more to life than just sleeping around.

==="if thou know one rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife, 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, ahe moves me not, or not removes at least affection’s edge in me, were she as rough as are the swelling Adriatic seas. I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua." === (Act I, Scene ii, 52-53)

Petruchio meets with his friends Honternsio and Grumos and asks for them to assist him in his conquest in finding a wife. Petruchio's only demand of his wife is that she is rich; he does not mind if she is hideous, rude, bad-tempered or old. He has come to Padua to find a rich wife, and he will not leave until he does so. The friends agree, regardless of how pitiful his desires are towards Katherine.

 By the time Hannah gets home from Scotland, Tom begins to think it just might be too late. They meet for dinner and both have very important news to share. Tom will tell her he wants to be with her, and Hannah will tell him she is getting married. Before Tom could get any words out of his mouth, he meets Hannah's new found "love," red-haired, kilt wearing, Colin. Hannah not only tells Tom she is getting married, but she also asks him to be her "Made of Honor", a speechless Tom says, "I'll think about it."

When Tom tells Felix, Felix immediately thinks agreeing to be the "Made of Honor" will be a great idea. He tells Tom that this is the perfect opportunity so he can spend a lot of time with Hannah to win her. Felix, like Grumio and Hortensio, is helping out a good friend. The only difference is, Felix knows Tom is in true romance and thats why he is helping him out. Grumio and Hortensio are doing it for their own personal benefit.

 =="Tarry, Petruchio, I must go with thee, for in Baptista’s keep my treasure is he hath the jewel of my life in hold, his youngest daughter, beautiful Bianca, and her withholds from me and other more, suitors to her and rivals in my love, supposing it a thing impossible, for those defects I have before rehearsed, that ever Katherina will be wooed. Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en, that none shall have access unto Bianca till Katherine the curst have got a husband. " == (Act I, Scene ii, 56-57)

Like Felix, Hortensio wants to help his friend, but under ONE condition, that he is allowed to go to Baptista's house to be with his jewel, Bianca. Hortensio uses the excuse, that none shall be permitted to court Bianca until that Katherine the shrew finds a husband.

In the end, both Characters: Tom and Petruchio get married to the woman they want to be with. Tom steals a kiss at Hannah's Bachelor party, and Petruchio forces a wedding upon Katherine. Neither man could've done it without their friends, but both men as different intensions.