What did Petruchio say after the wedding?

• A. They would ride to Verona
• B. They would stay for the feast
• C. He and Katherine must leave
• D. Katherine should apologize

Answer: (C)

After the wedding, Petruchio immediately sets up the power dynamic that drives the play: he intends to begin controlling Katharine right away by removing her from the social setting and starting their life together under his rules. By insisting they must leave at once for his house, he signals that the marriage will be governed by his authority rather than by ceremony or hospitality. This move shows his strategy to break Katharine’s independence by disrupting her comfort and routine, a deliberate tactic to “tame” her will through swift, uncompromising control.

Staying for a feast would keep Katharine in the expected social role and delay the shift in power that Petruchio wants, while heading to Verona would derail the immediate plan and timing of their union. Asking Katharine to apologize would also undermine his approach, which hinges on asserting command rather than eliciting contrition.