The Taming of the Shrew

5. How is the elaborate web of lies finally revealed?

The lies end when Lucentio appears. He explains the lies to his father and Baptista and asks his father not to blame Biondello or Tranio.
6. What is the history of Vincentio’s relationship with Tranio? What does it suggest about the status of servants in some Elizabethan households?

Vincentio says of Tranio, “As if I knew not his name: I have brought him up ever since he was three years old, and his name is Tranio.” Tranio has grown up in Vincentio’s house, and although he is a ser- vant, he is much like a member of the family, albeit one who lacks the status of Lucentio. Vincentio’s relationship with Tranio suggests that this particular master/servant relationship existed in numerous households during Shakespeare’s time.
7. How does Tranio and Biondello’s treatment of Vincentio echo Petruchio’s treatment of Kate and the lord’s treatment of Christopher Sly?

By claiming Vincentio is someone other than who he says he is, Tranio and Biondello make Vincentio seem—and possibly feel—unhinged. Petruchio uses a similar tactic with Kate when he behaves as though she has said something other than what she has said, and the lord uses the same approach with Christopher Sly, treating him as though he is someone other than who he is.
8. How does Petruchio convince Kate to kiss him in the street?

When Kate says she would be ashamed to be seen kissing in “the midst of the street,” Petruchio says, “Why, then, let’s home again.” Because she wants to stay, she agrees to kiss him.
9. How might Petruchio’s kiss suggest something other than a game of obedience that he must win? Petruchio and Kate’s marriage was arranged by her father as a financial transaction. Petruchio’s insistence on a public display of affection suggests that he sees his marriage to Kate as more than a financial contract. He may be expressing his genuine desire and affection for Kate and wanting her

to reciprocate these emotions. Also, the context of their exchange suggests that Petruchio is engaging with his wife, not wielding power over her. They are both intrigued by the complications of Lucentio and Bianca’s wedding, focusing together on that unfolding drama instead of their past differences. When Kate says, “Husband, let’s follow to see the end of this ado,” it is then that Petruchio suddenly wants to kiss her; his desire for a kiss seems uncalculated, a genuine response to her calling him “hus- band” and speaking of them as a couple. Finally, after Kate kisses him, their behavior toward each other is tender. “Now pray thee, love, stay,” Kate tells Petruchio. He responds, “Is not this well? Come, my sweet Kate: / Better once than never, for never too late,” suggesting that it is not too late for them to mend their relationship and perhaps to grow to love each other.
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The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition

Act Five, Scene Two


Vocabulary
afeard: archaic frightened
amiable: displaying a friendly manner awful: archaic worthy of respect

bauble: a trinket that is small and decorative but of little real value bereft: archaic deprived or lacking something

bodes: foretells conferring: discussing currish: dog-like

deign: to do something one believes is beneath one’s dignity galled: archaic angered

goodly: considerable in size or quantity jarring: archaic disagreeing

meads: archaic meadows office: archaic role peevish: irritable

sway: noun control over someone swinge: to punish somebody severely

1. Who takes offense when the widow suggests that Petruchio is afraid of Kate, and who does not? Why is this surprising? What do the characters’ responses imply?

Kate takes offense at the widow’s suggestion that Petruchio is afraid of Kate, and Petruchio does not. Their respective responses are surprising because Kate has appeared passive in recent scenes, and Pe- truchio has made his command of Kate a point of pride. Kate’s response may imply that she no longer wants to be seen as a domineering woman; it also may suggest that she defends Petruchio because she cares about his pride and won’t stand to see him demeaned. As for Petruchio, his not taking offense implies strongly that he also has changed in a significant way; his fiery temper and combative nature are no longer evident. He may not take offense because the widow’s accusation is laughable and be- cause he is sure of himself in his relationship with Kate.

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The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition

2. The widow is never referred to by name. What does this omission suggest?

The men do not show the widow respect, and failing to use her name is an indication of their disre- spect. She has no identity as a person; she is only identified and defined by her marital status before marrying Hortensio.
3. Bianca makes fun of Gremio, and then she makes several lewd jokes. How has she changed? What might explain the change in her behavior?

Whereas in previous scenes Bianca has been proper and sometimes demure, her behavior at the wed- ding party is far from restrained. The change in her behavior might result from her feelings of security now that she is married to the man she desires; she does not have to play a role or present a false ap- pearance to win over a man. She also could be reverting to her true nature. Living with Kate in their father’s house, Bianca might have adopted the personality of the “ideal woman” to set herself apart from her sharp-tongued, outspoken sister and win her father’s approval; she also could have been quiet and passive simply because she was overwhelmed and intimidated by Kate.
4. What metaphor does Tranio use to describe himself, and why? What motif does this metaphor il- lustrate? What idea does it convey?

Tranio compares himself to a greyhound, a dog “which runs himself and catches for his master.” Tranio enjoys the spirit of the chase, the running, but his metaphor suggests he is happy to return the spoils

of his efforts to his master. This hunting/training motif illustrates the “correct” subordinate role of the servant that the social hierarchy demands, just as it demands the woman to take a subordinate role to her husband.
5. Describe the banter between the men at the wedding. At whose expense do they joke?

The men’s banter is witty and filled with sexual innuendo in regard to the widow and to Bianca. Al- though the men playfully ridicule each other, they make jokes mainly at the expense of the women.
6. Why won’t the widow come when Hortensio entreats her? How does she respond to Hortensio? What does this imply about her?

After witnessing the way Biondello came for Bianca, the widow doesn’t believe that her husband really needs her. She correctly suspects that she’s being used as a part of a joke. Biondello reports to Horten- sio, “She says you have some goodly jest in hand: / She will not come.” The widow asserts herself fur- ther as she sends Biondello with a message to her husband: “She bids you come to her.” The widow’s actions suggest that she is independent and clever, a woman who will not mindlessly submit to her husband.
7. Lucentio “bids” his mistress come to him, Hortensio “entreats,” and Petruchio “commands.” What differences do these words reflect about the balance of power in the three relationships? Lucentio and Hortensio are polite and solicitous in their requests for their wives’ presence, which their language shows. Petruchio, in contrast, shows no regard for Kate or her feelings when he “commands” that she come to him. He does not need to be polite because he has all the power in their relationship, whereas Lucentio and Hortensio do not have all the power in theirs.
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The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition

8. Which of the men wins the wager about the women?

Petruchio wins the wager, as Kate comes to him quickly and seemingly willingly, whereas the other women do not come when their husbands request their presence.
9. Why does Petruchio ask Kate to bring out the other women? Why does he ask her to take off her cap?

Petruchio enjoys showing off Kate’s obedience; he wants Kate’s behavior to stand in marked contrast to the other wives’. He asks her to take off her cap as yet another way to show the others her new- found obedience.
10. Describe Kate’s speech about a wife’s role. What arguments does it offer for why a woman should obey her husband?

Kate’s speech uses sophisticated language and imagery to make a case for why a wife should adhere to her husband’s command. She explains that an angry woman is not an attractive woman; that because a husband does so much for his wife, obedience is the least she can do for him; that men were created stronger than women and thus deserve to be obeyed; and that men are overall superior and women should stop fighting that truth.
11. Early in the play, Petruchio predicts what will happen when he and Kate marry: “Where two rag- ing fires meet together / They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.” Explain how Petruchio’s prediction seems to have come true by the end of the play.

At the play’s conclusion, Kate is no longer a combative woman with a sharp tongue, and Petruchio is no longer given to a fiery temper and acts of violence; their raging fires have been quenched. Petru- chio’s need to dominate has been satisfied, one way or the other; either Kate has been tamed, or she has grown to understand her husband and cleverly makes him believe through her obedience in all matters, even those that are ridiculous, that he has gained the upper hand in their marriage. Conse- quently, as the text suggests toward the end of the play, their relationship changes; moments of unity and tenderness occur. Petruchio kisses Kate and tells her it’s not too late for them; Kate is incensed when Petruchio is belittled before others and defends him. An obedient wife or a clever one, Kate is no longer scorned by others and criticized by her father. All that fed her fury—and Petruchio’s—has been consumed. Petruchio’s prediction of their relationship proves to be truer than he could have imagined and in ways he didn’t suspect.


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