Walter Stratford (Larry Miller), Katarina’s father, lays out his arbitrary rules to control his daughters. Shakespeare's equivalent (found in The Taming of the Shrew at lines Act 1. Scene 1.48-51) uses similar ideas to in the very different social expectations that governed wooing and wedding in the late sixteenth century.

Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) invents an extravagantly public and risky way to show his affection to Katarina (Julia Stiles). He commandeers the schools public address system and a high school marching band to proclaim his love. In an equivalent daring move, Shakespeare's Petruchio risks social ridicule by appearing at his wedding to Katherine dressed in outlandish clothing

In the final moments of the film Katarina (Julia Stiles) writes an elegant sonnet in her English class to make public her feelings for Patrick (Heath Ledger). In turn Patrick celebrates Katarina's imagination and her new playfulness with the gift of a beautiful guitar. Shakespeare stages a more elaborate way for the two lovers to show their mutual dedication (in Act 5. Scene 2), but the same lively discord in the play and in the film shows how a rich relationship grows out of reconciling differences with humor and generosity.