The story in one page
Baptista Minola has a rigid policy regarding his two daughters: the sharp-tongued Katherina must be off his hands before the desirable Bianca can accept suitors. Petruchio, a loud gentleman from Verona, views this challenge as a financial opportunity. After marrying Katherina against her will, he drags her to the country to break her spirit through aggressive eccentricity and theatrical cruelty. Meanwhile, in Padua, Lucentio disguises himself as a language tutor to court Bianca, while his servant Tranio orchestrates a farce involving a fake father. The chaos culminates at a wedding banquet where Katherina, now apparently docile, delivers a public lecture on the necessity of submission.
Who's who
- Katherina
The older daughter, frequently described as a shrew.
- Petruchio
A Verona gentleman seeking a wealthy, if difficult, wife.
- Baptista Minola
A wealthy father holding a restrictive marital queue.
- Bianca
The younger, sought-after daughter caught in the waiting period.
- Lucentio
A student who uses disguise to bypass parental rules.
What it's really about
- Marriage as Transaction
- Relationships are governed by dowries and social status.
- Performance of Gender
- Characters adopt roles to manipulate public perception.
Why it's memorable
- Petruchio wringing his servant by the ears to force a knock.
- A pedant trying to convince everyone he is a wealthy father.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Petruchio wins a wager based on his wife's obedience and leads Katherina off to bed, leaving the others shocked by her transformation.
For your book club
- The play treats domestic life as a high-stakes competitive sport.
- Disguise is the primary tool for bypassing an inconvenient reality.