The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare)
Short summary
Renaissance Padua, Italy. Wealthy merchant Baptista Minola announced that no man could marry his younger daughter Bianca until someone wed his elder daughter Katharina, known throughout the city as a fierce shrew. Young Lucentio arrived from Pisa and instantly fell in love with gentle Bianca. He disguised himself as a tutor to court her secretly while his servant Tranio posed as him.
Petruchio arrived from Verona seeking a wealthy wife after his father's death.
Despite warnings about Katharina's temperament, he welcomed the challenge for her substantial dowry.
Petruchio boldly courted Katharina, countering her insults with praise and claiming she was secretly gentle. He announced their engagement despite her protests and arrived late to their wedding dressed ridiculously. After a chaotic ceremony, he forcibly took his bride to his country house, claiming ownership over her.
At his home, Petruchio began 'taming' Katharina through psychological warfare - denying her food and sleep while claiming to act in her best interest. He rejected new clothes and forced her to agree with his absurd statements, like calling the sun the moon. Meanwhile, Lucentio secretly married Bianca while other suitors were deceived.
At the final wedding feast, three newlywed husbands wagered whose wife would prove most obedient. When summoned, only Katharina came immediately. She delivered a speech about wifely duty:
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 labour both by sea and land
Detailed summary by acts and scenes
Descriptive titles for acts and scenes are editorial.
Induction. The lords trick on Christopher Sly
Scene 1. The lords prank on the drunken tinker
A drunken tinker named Christopher Sly fell asleep outside an alehouse after arguing with the hostess about broken glasses. A lord returning from hunting discovered the unconscious man and devised an elaborate prank.
The lord instructed his servants to carry Sly to his finest chamber, dress him in rich clothes, and convince him upon waking that he was a nobleman who had been mad for fifteen years. The lord also arranged for his page to disguise himself as Sly's wife and for traveling players to perform a comedy.
Scene 2. Sly awakens as a lord; the play within a play begins
When Sly awoke, servants attended him with fine clothes and food, addressing him as their lord. Though initially confused and insisting he was just a tinker, Sly gradually accepted his supposed noble identity. The disguised page appeared as his wife, claiming they had been separated by his illness. Players arrived to perform a comedy for his entertainment, and Sly settled down to watch the performance that would become the main story.
Act 1. Lucentios arrival and the marriage conditions
Scene 1. Lucentio arrives in Padua; Baptistas marriage conditions
Young Lucentio arrived in Padua with his servant Tranio, eager to pursue his studies. They witnessed a public scene where Baptista Minola announced his marriage conditions for his two daughters.
Baptista declared that no man could marry his younger daughter Bianca until someone wed his elder daughter Katharina, known throughout Padua as a shrew. Katharina displayed her fierce temper, quarreling with her sister and the assembled suitors.
I pray you, sir, is it your will To make a stale of me amongst these mates?... I' faith, sir, you shall never need to fear: I wis it is not half way to her heart
Lucentio instantly fell in love with the gentle Bianca and devised a plan with Tranio to win her. They would exchange identities, with Tranio posing as Lucentio while the real Lucentio disguised himself as a tutor to gain access to Bianca.
Scene 2. Petruchio seeks a wife; suitors unite
Petruchio arrived in Padua from Verona, seeking a wealthy wife after his father's death. His friend Hortensio told him about Katharina, warning of her shrewish nature but emphasizing her substantial dowry.
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; If wealthily, then happily in Padua... She moves me not, or not removes, at least, Affection's edge in me, were she as rough As are the swelling Adriatic seas
The suitors Gremio and Hortensio agreed to work together to find Katharina a husband, thereby freeing Bianca for their competition. They welcomed Petruchio's interest and promised to support his courtship financially. Meanwhile, Tranio appeared as Lucentio and declared his intention to woo Bianca, adding another rival to the mix.
Act 2. Petruchios courtship of Katharina
Scene 1. Petruchio courts Katharina; marriage arrangements
Katharina bound her sister's hands and demanded to know which suitor Bianca preferred, striking her when she claimed to love none particularly. Baptista separated them, scolding Katharina for her violence. When the suitors arrived with their disguised tutors, Baptista welcomed the educational assistance for Bianca.
Petruchio boldly introduced himself and requested Katharina's hand in marriage, negotiating the dowry with Baptista. When Hortensio returned with his head broken from Katharina's lute, Petruchio was delighted rather than deterred, declaring his love increased tenfold.
Alone with Katharina, Petruchio engaged in a battle of wits, countering her every insult with praise and refusing to be driven away. He insisted on calling her Kate and claimed she was gentle and mild, directly contradicting her reputation and behavior.
And where two raging fires meet together They do consume the thing that feeds their fury: Though little fire grows great with little wind, Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all
When Baptista returned, Petruchio announced that he and Katharina had agreed to marry on Sunday, despite her vehement protests. He claimed her public resistance was merely an act they had agreed upon, and that privately she was loving and affectionate. Baptista consented to the match, and Petruchio departed to prepare for the wedding.
With Katharina's marriage arranged, Baptista turned to his younger daughter's suitors. Gremio and Tranio competed by listing their wealth and possessions, with Tranio claiming greater riches. Baptista promised Bianca to whoever could provide the best financial assurance, pending parental approval.
Act 3. The wedding and departure
Scene 1. Biancas tutors compete for her attention
While teaching Bianca, Lucentio and Hortensio competed for her attention. Lucentio cleverly revealed his true identity through Latin translation, while Hortensio attempted to court her through music lessons. Bianca showed more interest in Lucentio's advances, causing Hortensio to grow suspicious of his rival's intentions.
A servant interrupted their lessons to announce that Bianca must help prepare for Katharina's wedding the next day. Both tutors departed, with Hortensio growing increasingly wary of Lucentio's success with Bianca.
Scene 2. Petruchios wedding and departure
On the wedding day, Petruchio arrived late and dressed in ridiculous, mismatched clothing, much to everyone's embarrassment. Despite pleas to change his attire, he insisted on marrying Katharina exactly as he was, claiming she was marrying him, not his clothes.
The wedding ceremony was chaotic, with Petruchio behaving outrageously throughout. He swore loudly, struck the priest, threw wine in the sexton's face, and kissed Katharina so loudly that the entire church echoed. Immediately after the ceremony, he announced his intention to leave with his bride, refusing all entreaties to stay for the wedding feast.
When Katharina protested that she would not leave, Petruchio declared his absolute ownership over her, claiming she was his property like any other possession.
I will be master of what is mine own: She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing
Despite Katharina's resistance and the guests' protests, Petruchio forcibly took his bride away, claiming to protect her from thieves. The wedding party was left to feast without the bride and groom, with Baptista asking Lucentio to take the bridegroom's place at the table.
Act 4. The taming of Katharina
Scene 1. Petruchios country house; taming begins
At Petruchio's country house, his servant Grumio described their difficult journey to the other servants. Petruchio and Katharina had fallen from their horse into the mud, and Petruchio had beaten Grumio when Katharina's horse stumbled.
When the couple arrived, Petruchio berated his servants for their service, struck them for minor faults, and rejected the food as burnt and unwholesome. He claimed this harsh treatment was for Katharina's own good, preventing her from eating food that would increase her choler. Katharina, exhausted and hungry, could only watch as her husband's tyrannical behavior continued.
This is a way to kill a wife with kindness; And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour. He that knows better how to tame a shrew, Now let him speak: 'tis charity to show.
Scene 2. Hortensio renounces Bianca; the pedant arrives
Hortensio witnessed Bianca's obvious preference for Lucentio and renounced his suit in disgust. He revealed his true identity to Tranio and announced his intention to marry a wealthy widow instead. Meanwhile, Tranio found a pedant to impersonate Lucentio's father Vincentio, necessary to secure Baptista's approval for the marriage contract.
Scene 3. Katharina is denied food and clothing
Katharina, starved and sleep-deprived, begged Grumio for food, but he tormented her by suggesting various dishes then refusing to provide them. When Petruchio arrived with Hortensio and food, he demanded thanks before allowing her to eat. A tailor and haberdasher brought fine clothes, but Petruchio rejected everything, claiming the cap was too small and the gown poorly made. He declared that they would return to her father's house in their plain clothes, insisting that inner worth mattered more than outward appearance.
Scene 4. The false Vincentio; Lucentios secret marriage
The disguised pedant successfully convinced Baptista that he was Vincentio, Lucentio's father, and they agreed to the marriage contract. While the adults arranged the formal betrothal, Lucentio and Bianca secretly planned to elope and marry immediately at a nearby church, with a priest already prepared for the ceremony.
Scene 5. Petruchio tests Katharinas obedience
On the road to Padua, Petruchio tested Katharina's submission by insisting the sun was the moon. When she contradicted him, he threatened to return home. Katharina finally yielded completely, agreeing to call the sun whatever he wished.
Forward, I pray, since we have come so far, And be it moon, or sun, or what you please: An if you please to call it a rush-candle, Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me.
Act 5. Resolution and final transformations
Scene 1. Identities revealed; Lucentios marriage discovered
The real Vincentio arrived in Padua and was shocked to find an imposter claiming to be him. Chaos ensued as the false identities were exposed. Lucentio and Bianca returned from their secret wedding, and Lucentio revealed his true identity to his father, begging forgiveness for the deception. The pedant and Tranio fled, and Vincentio threatened revenge. Despite the confusion, Baptista accepted the marriage as accomplished, and the families prepared to celebrate.
Scene 2. The final feast; Katharinas speech on wifely duty
At the wedding feast, the three newly married men wagered on whose wife would prove most obedient when summoned. Bianca and Hortensio's widow both refused to come when called, but Katharina appeared immediately at Petruchio's command. She then fetched the other two wives and delivered a lengthy speech on wifely duty and submission.
Why are our bodies soft and weak and smooth, Unapt to toil and trouble in the world, But that our soft conditions and our hearts Should well agree with our external parts?
Katharina argued that women should serve, love, and obey their husbands, who work and suffer to provide for them. She declared that a disobedient wife was like a rebel against her loving lord.
But now I see our lances are but straws, Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare, That seeming to be most which we indeed least are. Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot
She concluded by offering to place her hand beneath her husband's foot as a token of submission. Petruchio, delighted by this transformation, kissed his wife and declared victory in their battle of wills. The other men marveled at the complete change in the once-shrewish Katharina, and Petruchio won both the wager and universal admiration for his successful taming of the shrew.