The Taming of The Shrew by William Shakespeare

Title: The Taming of the Shrew (Sparknotes No Fear Shakespeare copy)


Author: William Shakespeare

Pages: 249

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Characters

• Petruchio- Antonio’s son, resident of Verona, intent on finding a rich wife no matter her disposure, Katherine's dowry is a want, but her cleverness and "shrewishness" seem to thrill him

• Lucentio- professed romantic lead of the play, conventional, well-off, came to Padua to pursue his education, academic goals fall to pieces when he sees Bianca, single-mindedly pursues her.

• Katherine- "shrew", Katherine lashes out at Hortensio and Gremio, clever, strong-willed, vivacious, vibrant, an attractive contrast to her sister Bianca

• Bianca- Baptista’s younger daughter, object of Lucentio's affection, name means 'white,' and indeed she is rather colorless compared to her vivacious sister, Katherine.

• Baptista- wealthy gentleman of Padua, father of Katherine and Bianca, outspokenly prefers his more well-behaved daughter, has no qualms about referring to Katherine as "the veriest shrew of all."

• Tranio- Lucentio's principal attendant,Lucentio's identity in order to help him win Bianca's heart, and by doing so suggests that all that separates a master from his servant is language and dress.

• Hortensio- Bianca's suitors, pompous, foolish, gives up on Bianca, marries a wealthy widow.

• Gremio- old, foolish, suitor of Bianca, ends up with nothing

• Grumio- Petruchio's servant, speaks his mind, playfully twists words around, clearly a servant, Petruchio and Katherine beat and ridicule him ruthlessly

• Vincentio- Lucentio's wealthy father.

• Biondello- Lucentio's servant

• Widow- quickly courted and wed by Hortensio, rich

• Curtis- Petruchio's servant.

• Pedant- From Mantua, Lucentio/ Tranio tricks him into believing that all Mantuans are condemned to die, and he disguises himself as Vincentio

• Tailor- Insulted by Petruchio.

• Haberdasher- Insulted by Petruchio.

• Nathaniel, Philip, Joseph, Nicholas, Peter- Petruchio’s servants, insulted by Petruchio

• Christopher Sly- A drunken tinker, who is made to think he is a lord.

• Lord- Passes by Sly and decides dress him up as a lord

Favorite Part:

I enjoyed the scene when Katherine tells Bianca and the widow about the obligation they have to their husbands. She is acting obediently towards Petruchio in the end, after her torture of not sleeping nor eating. Her explanation was long, "Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,

Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee,

And for thy maintenance commits his body

To painful labor both by sea and land,

To watch the night in storms, the day in cold,

Whilst though liest warm at home, secure and safe,

And craves no other tribute at thy hands

But love, fair looks, and true obedience-

Too little payment for so great a debt.

Such duty as the subject owes the prince,

Even such a woman oweth to her husband;

And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,

And not obedient to his honest will,

What is she but a foul contending rebel

And graceless traitor to her loving lord?

I am ashamed that women are so simple

To offer war where they should kneel for peace,

Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway

When they are bound to serve, love, and obey.”