"Please ye we may contrive this afternoon,
And quaff carouses to our mistress' health,
And do as adversaries do in law,
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends...."See in text(Act I - Scene 2)
Tranio's lines underscore a major theme and problem within the play. Love is devoid of meaning and feeling in a world where suitors compete with each other for money, status, and marriage. Feeling is displaced and love becomes more of a contract or prize that can be likened to legal battles. The play will continue to explore this problem and, ironically, offer Katherina and Petruchio's relationship as a solution at the end of the play.
