Taming of the Schrew

1. The argument between Sly and the hostess demonstrates the position of power between them. The hostess is in a higher social standing than Sly, who is merely a drunken tinker. However, Sly refuses to accept this fact and he argues with the hostess because he feels that as a man, he should be in a position of power. The theme of female submission is apparent throughout the play.

2. The Lord’s deception of Sly demonstrates the theme that a person’s behavior is influenced by his or her surroundings and how he or she is treated. For example, when Sly was convinced that he is a nobleman, he no longer behaves like a beggar. Instead, he behaves as if he was a nobleman, and changes his speech from prose to poetry. Like the lord, Petruchio also duped Katherina by taming her from a shrew to an obedient wife.

3. The page as Sly’s wife and Katherina’s relationship to Petruchio shows that marriage is something that people use for their own gain and benefit. The page agreed to become Sly’s “wife” only because he wanted to fool him into believing that he is a nobleman. Similarly, Petruchio agreed to marry Katrina only because he wanted to receive her huge dowry. In both of these instances, marriage is not motivated by love, but is driven by self gain.

4. Sly’s references to real people and places shows that even though he believes that he is living in a fictional world, he is in fact still stuck in reality. Shakespeare is making a point to the audience that not all things in life are as they seem to be. The distinction between dream and reality is not apparent.

5. Initially, Sly was reluctant to believe that he is a lord. However, when he is told that he had suffered a madness for fifteen years, and is then shown his wife, Sly becomes convinced that he is indeed a lord. Realizing his new position, Sly changes his speech from prose to poetry.

Act I6. Lucentio’s opening speech shows his dedication to his studies. He is eager to learn and finds joy in doing so. He also respected his father and expressed his gratitude for his father in allowing him to come to Padua.

7. Tranio advices Lucentio that he should have some fun in life in addition to study. His advice foreshadows that Lucentio will soon depart from his goal, which is too study. Lucentio will later fall in love with Bianca and decide to become her tutor so that he can woo her.

8. Kate’s first appearance reveals her shrewish nature when she publicly insults both Gremio and Hortensio. When Hortensio criticizes her behaviour, Katherine claims that if she cared for words, she would hit his head with a stool. She also denounces Bianca for her weakness. Katherine maintains her independent character and refuses to succumb to men such as Hortensio and Gremio.

9. Tranio is Lucentio’s servant. When Lucentio fell in love with Bianca, he tells Tranio to disguise himself as him, while Lucentio himself will pose as Bianca’s tutor.

10. At the end of the scene, Sly appears in the play. This marks his final appearance. Before disappearing yet again, he claims that he is enjoying the play, but wishes to be alone with his wife.

11. Lucentio came to Padua because he wanted to study at its famous university. Petruchio, on the other hand, came to Padua because he wanted to find a rich wife. Upon hearing Petruchio’s intent, Gremio offers to introduce Katherina but warns him of her shrewish nature. Petruchio claims that he can overlook her behavior for the dowry.

Act II12. Kate abused Bianca because she wanted to know which suitor Bianca prefers. She is also jealous because her sister will be married soon, while she “must dance barefoot on her wedding-day…and lead apes in hell” (II.i.33-34).

13. When Petruchio meets with Baptista, Baptista warns him about Katherine’s behavior and tries to discourage him from marrying her. Petruchio ignores the warning, believing that Baptista does not want to part with Katherine. He also offered Hortensio as Katherine’s music teacher.

14. Baptista appears to favor Bianca over Katherine due to her rude behavior. Instead of finding a husband for Katherine, he discouraged Petruchio from marrying her by warning him of Katherine’s shrewish behavior.

15. Hortensio complains that during his music lesson with Katherine, she smashed an instrument over his head. His account serves to give more insight into Katherine’s character and her cruelty.

16. In Petruchio’s soliloquy, he reveals the method in which he will “tame” Katherine. He will call her “Kate” and contradict everything she says. His soliloquy also reveals a concealed character. Unlike other men who are disgusted with Katherine’s personality, Petruchio will treat Katherine with sternness, tolerance, and patience in an attempt to tame her.

17. Puns are frequently used in Kate and Petruchio’s encounter because the two of them attempt to outwit each other through intellect. Petruchio attempts to overcome Katherine through his puns, while Katherine resists his attempt by countering with more puns.

18. Petruchio’s story about Kate’s agreement to marry him is readily accepted because everyone had longed to see Kate find a husband. Baptista can finally see her daughter get married, while Gremio, Hortensio, and Lucentio are finally free to pursue Bianca. Petruchio also claims that Kate has kissed him in private.

19. The idea of deception is the theme of the play. For example, the deception of Sly had led him to believe that he is a nobleman and that the page is his wife. Petruchio has changed his own character and is using deception in order to tame Katherine an obedient wife. Similarly, Tranio’s disguise as Lucentio’s father is another form of deception.

Act III20. The love scenes between Bianca and Lucentio and Bianca and Hortensio reveal that Bianca is showing a preference for Lucentio. Her preference is shown when she chooses to take the language lesson before the music lesson. During the lessons, Bianca also responded more favorably to Lucentio’s confessions for his love.

21. In Kate and Petruchio’s love scene, the two of them engaged in a fierce battle of words where elaborate puns are exchanged. Even though Kate refuses to be married, Petruchio insists that he will marry Kate no matter what. Contrastingly, in Bianca’s courtship, Lucentio showed his true compassion for Bianca. He confessed his love for Bianca through a mock translation of a Latin paragraph. Although Bianca is suspicious of Petrichio’s intent, she did show a slight interest in him.

22. Petruchio’s delay caused distress in Kate who believed that Petruchio has ran away from his marriage. Her distress was shown when she broke down in tears, and it is at that moment when the audience first witnesses a sign of weakness from Kate. This signals Kate’s development of obedience and thus, the shrew is beginning to be “tamed.”23. Petruchio’s shabby appearance is solely for the purpose to tame Kate. Kate knows that she cannot resist and that she cannot stop her stubborn husband from doing what he wants. By dressing himself in a ridiculous outfit, Petruchio is able to embarrass Kate and take away her dignity.

24. Like his shabby appearance, Petruchio acted rudely at the wedding in order to tame Kate through embarrassment and shame. Petruchio’s action had greatly weakened Kate’s character. She is incapable to resist Petruchio behavior and the only way she can stop him is by completely submitting to his wishes.

25. When Petruchio announces that they will leave before the wedding dinner, Kate responds objectionably. However, Kate’s objection does not stop Petruchio from forcing her to leave. Unlike Kate’s previous suitors, Petruchio is a very firm individual who has a great desire to tame Kate into an obedient wife. The position of authority had now been switched. Kate, who had always been able to rise above the authority of men, is now forced to submit to Petruchio whose authority overcomes her.

26. Kate’s statement is ironic because it would seem as though she is referring to herself. She is a woman who had been “made a fool” by Petruchio’s foolish behavior at the church. Furthermore, her attempt to resist had failed as Petruchio forced her to leave the church against her will.

Act IV27. Elements of farce are presented in Grumio’s account of his trip from Padua. During the trip, Katherine’s horse stumbled and she fell. The horse landed on her and Petruchio, instead of helping her, beats Grumio for letting the horse stumble. In this farce situation, Petruchio’s odd and unreasonable behavior provides humor to the audience.

28. By Grumio’s account, Kate’s character has made some substantial changes. When Petruchio beats Grumio, Kate sympathizes with Grumio and tries to defend him. Furthermore, when she arrives home, Kate defends the servants when Petruchio criticizes the food. Kate is no longer selfish as she once was in the beginning of the play. Even though she is extremely hungry, she does not demand Petruchio to give her food, nor does she complain about her hunger.

29. Petrichio compares his treatment of Kate to the taming of a falcon. By rewarding Kate only when she obeys him, Petruchio can “tame” Kate into submitting to his wishes and demands. Like a tamed falcon, Kate will respond obediently to her master’s call.

30. Unlike their last exchange, Bianca and Lucentio now openly declared their love for each other. Bianca did not show a great interest in Lucentio during the previous meeting, but in this scene, it is clear that she has a loving interest for him. Lucentio has successfully wooed Bianca.

31. Hortensio’s resolution to seek kindness in a woman and not beauty is ironic because he first became Bianca’s suitor due to her beauty. Furthermore, it is also ironic, as we will later find out, that the widow Hortensio planned to marry turned out to be a shrew instead of the kind woman as he had hoped.

32. The recruitment of the pedant furthers the theme of deception. The pedant will disguise himself as Vincentio and fool Baptista into thinking that he is Lucentio’s real father. Similarly, the deception of Sly has led him to believe that he is a lord, and the deception of Petruchio’s real character has allowed Kate to be tamed.

33. Kate’s conversation with Grumio reveals the weakened state of her character. Kate is very hungry but she is incapable of fulfilling her hunger unless Petruchio allows her to eat. She pleads with Grumio to give her food but his refusal signifies that a mere servant has more power and control than her. Kate also comes to the realization that Petruchio is tormenting her “under the name of perfect love” (IV.iii.12).

34. Kate’s outburst at Petruchio over the cap and gown reveals that she has not been tamed and that she is not completely obedient to Petruchio. Her outburst also convinced Petruchio that Kate needs further taming.

35. Petruchio’s speech to Kate about the unimportance of clothing is hypocritical. He claims that it is the mind that makes the body rich.

36. Biondello remained behind after Tranio, Baptista, and the pedant left because he was trying to find a priest to administer the wedding between Lucentio (Cambio) and Bianca. The two of them were planning to elope.

37. Petruchio’s test of Kate proves that Kate has been fully tamed to obey Petruchio. When Petruchio referred to the sun as the moon, Kate agreed even though she knew full well that it was the sun. This marks the transformation of Kate from a shrew to Petruchio’s submissive and obedient wife. She accepts the authority of her husband, signifying that Petruchio has successfully tamed her.

Act V38. When Vincentio introduced himself as Lucentio’s father, he was called a liar by Baptista and was thought to be a lunatic. Tranio also pretended not to recognize who he was, and Vincentio believed that the pedant, who was disguised as Lucentio, had murdured his son and taken his identity. When the real Lucentio arrived and resolved the situation, Vincentio claimed that he will take revenge on those who had fooled him.

39. Lucentio assumes the name of Cambio who plays the role of Bianca’s tutor. Using his secret identity, he wooed Bianca and eloped with her without the knowledge of Baptista.

40. Petruchio’s request for a kiss from Kate is a test of her devotion for her love. Kissing in public was a social taboo back in Victorian times. Although Kate initially refused, she did eventually kiss him. Her willingness to kiss Petruchio demonstrates that she loves him in addition to being obedient.

41. When Petruchio remarks that “Padua affords nothing but what is kind,” he is saying that there is nothing in Padua that is not pleasant. He is greatly enjoying the banquet in Lucentio’s house.

Bibliography:Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew. New York: Washington Square Press