Taming of the Shrew Review

Kate (katherina)

Beginning: seems ill-tempered, sharp-tongued, disobedient, undesirable for marriage

Change: Becomes outwardly obedient and compliant; interpretation varies (some see genuine change, others see strategic behavior)

Petruchio

Goal: To marry a wealthy women and gain a large dowry

Methods: Uses psychological tactics- contradiction, deprivation, and control (to tame kate)

Bianca

Admired for: Her beauty, sweetness, and seeming obedience

End behavior: shows independence and even defiance (does not immediately obey her husband in the final scene

Lucentio

Original purpose: to study at a university in Padua

Risks: disguises himself as Cambio, lies to others, and secretly marries Bianca

What was Lucentio’s desguise and purpose?

Disguise: tutor (Cambio)

Purpose: to get close to bianca and court her

what was Tranio’s disguise and purpose

Disguise: Lucentio

Purpose: To negotiate marriage arrangements

what was Hortensio’s disguise and purpose

Disguise: Music teacher (Litio)

Purpose: To gain access to Bianca

why does disguises matter?

They create dramatic irony and humor, allow characters to pursue love secretly, and drive the plot forward through misunderstanding and deception.

Baptista delays Bianca’s marriage

Cause: He insists that Kate must marry first

Effect: Suitors search for someone willing to marry kate

Petruchio’s strange wedding behavior

Cause: He wants to assert dominance and begin “taming” Kate.

Effect: Embarrasses Kate and confuses others; establishes control in marriage

Kate agrees about the sun/moon

cause: Petruchio insists on controlling reality and contradicts her

effect: kate complies, showing or pretending obedience

What happens in the key moment when Petruchio refuses food?

He claims the food isnt good enough and denies kate meals as part of his strategy to control her

what happened in the key moments when there was the Music lesson incident

Kate becomes angry and hits Hortensio (disguised as a teacher), showing her fiery personality

what happened in the key moments when Lucentio reveals his identity

he admits who he really is after marrying Bianca, resolving the deception plot

what happened in the key moments when there was the final wager

The husbands bet on whose wife is most obedient; Kate “wins” by obeying surprising everyone.

what was the theme

marriage as an economic transaction, the performance of gender roles, social hierarchy

what were the two places

Padua, Italy (Kate and Bianca’s house)

Verona (Petruchio’s county house)

what was the quote that Pete one of Petruchios servants says

he kills her in her own humour

who said “This is a way to kill a wife

with kindness”

Petruchio

who does kate end up marrying

petruchio