The Taming of the Shrew William Shakespeare

Summary of "The Taming of the Shrew"

Baptista, lord of Padua was a father of two daughters.  The Eldest Katherine was a as beautiful as her sister Bianca, but she had such an ungovernable temper that she was always known as Katharine the Shrew.  everyone was afraid of her angry tongue,and  in spite of her beautiful face she had no admirers.  Her sister Bianca was a simple, gentle and humble beautiful girl.

In verona a young man with wealth and health wished to see the world and find a wife.  So he went to padua to meet his friend.  With the help of his friend Hortensio he went to  Baptista to ask his daughter in marriage.  Father was so shocked called Katherine.  Petruchio decided to pretend that any harsh things from her were gentle and kind.  Then he informed the day of his marriage and went out without waiting for her reply.  She was so surprised.

On the day of the marriage Petruchio came to church very late with torn clothes, during the ceremony she struck the priest and pulled his beard and drank the wine.  After the wedding he refused the party and took his wife against her will to his home.  He took her in the thin weak horse in a rough path.  Katherine was such pain and anger.

In verona Petruchio started to Tame his new wife.  He refused to provide  food and clothing.  Also he said that the cooked meat was over cooked and a beautiful dress didn't fit right and a stylish hat was not fashionable.  He disagreed with her in everything and forced her to agree with him.  On their way back to Padua for Bianca's wedding she agreed with her husband for everything, that the sun was the moon, Katherine decided to agree with her husband as she learnt her lesson. When he said that Vincentio was a woman and then aplogised to him when Petruchio told her that was an old man Vincentio.

After Bianca's marriage all were discussing about their life partners and teased Petruchio for his suffering with the wild Katherine.  Petruchio proposed a challenge and sent the servant to call for their wives.  Katherine only came quickly and other failed.  She then advice the other two ladies to be obedient.  The play ended with the appreciation of Petruchio the way he tamed his shrew.

Questions and Answers

1. Name the Character in the story?

• Katharne the shrew
• Bianca Katherine's Sister
• Baptista Father of katherine
• Petruchio suitor of Katherine
• Luciento Bianca's suitor
• Hortensio Friend of petruchio
• Vicentio Father of Lucentio

2. Write the difference between the sisters?

• Bianca was gentle and beautiful. But Katharine was as beautiful as her sister, but she had such an ungovernable temper that she was always knows as Katharine the Shrew.  Everyone was afraid of her angry tongue, and in spite of her beautiful face she had no admirers.

3. What could be the reason for the delay in Katherine's marriage?

• Many men wanted to marry Bianca, but no one was willing to risk marriage with the bad tempered Katharine.

4. Who is Petruchio?

• In Vernoa , another Italian town, there lived a rich and gay young man called petruchio.  His father had recently died and left him plenty of money, and Petruchio now wished to see the world and find a wife.

5. Who came to propose Katherine?

• Petruchio came to propose Katharine.

6. What was the reaction of the Father?

• Baptista who was petruchio's father's friend was shocked and he said that his daughter would not suit him.

7. How did the Petruchio treat all Katharine's rudeness? Did he quarrel with her?

• Petruchio laughed at Hortensio when he came running from Katharine's room after she struck him with the lute. Petruchio decided to pretend that any harsh things from her were gentle and kind. "If she scolds he should tell her that she sings sweetly as a bird, If she frowns  he would say she looked as clear as morning roses washed with dew. If she would not speak he should say how well she talks. If sh tells him to be gone, he should thank her as if she had asked her him to stay a week.  If she will not marry him, he should ask her to name the day of the marriage

8. Describe the marriage?

• On the day of the marriage Petruchio came to church very late with torn and dirty clothes with a rusty, broken sword at his belt, during the ceremony he continued to act in the same wild and shocking way.  He cursed the priest so loudly that the poor man dropped his book and when he bent down to pick it up Petruchio rudely knocked him over. He struck the priest and pulled his beard and drank the wine.  After the wedding he refused the party and took his wife against her will to his home.  He took her in the thin weak horse in a rough path.  Katherine was such pain and anger. Katherine who had never been afraid of anyone, began to tremble with fear.

9. Explain the speech of Petruchio after his wedding?

• Katharine invited her husband to the party where all the guests were waiting.  But Petruchio refused the party and forced katharine to come home.  She refused to come so  Petruchio  called all the gentlemen and said," kate must go with me, I will be master of my own wife' and all guests could not refuse his request or command. soon Katharine rode with Petruchio to his home.

10.How did he take his wife to his home?

• It was a tiring ride, because Petruchio had chosen the worst roads for their journey, and their horses were old and thin.  While there were coming down a steep hill, katharine's horse fell down in the mud, with Katharine underneath it.  Petruchio, instead of helping his wife to get up, began to scold his servant, blaming him for the horse's fall. All shouted at once and the horse ran away. at last the servant caught the horses all went home with mud stained clothes.

11.How did he treat his wife?  Explain in detail.

• In verona Petruchio started to Tame his new wife.  He refused to provide  food and clothing.  Also he said that the cooked meat was over cooked and a beautiful dress didn't fit right and a stylish hat was not fashionable.  He disagreed with her in everything and forced her to agree with him.  On their way back to Padua for Bianca's wedding she agreed with her husband for everything, that the sun was the moon, Katherine decided to agree with her husband as she learnt her lesson. When he said that Vincentio was a woman and then aplogised to him when Petruchio told her that was an old man Vincentio.

12. What was the purpose of his strict behavior with his wife Katherine?

• It was Petruchio's plan to cure her of her angry temper.  he intended to show her how miserable it was to live with someone who was continually scolding and grumbling.  When she realized this, she would soon mend her bad tempered ways.

13. What happened when they visit to Bianca's wedding?  Explain.

• After Bianca's marriage all were discussing about their life partners and teased Petruchio for his suffering with the wild Katherine.  Petruchio proposed a challenge and sent the servant to call for their wives.  Katherine only came quickly and others failed to obey.  She then advice the other two ladies to be obedient.

14.  What was Katherine's advice to Bianca? What was the end of the play?

• To everyone's amazement, Katharine talked wisely and gently to the other wives about the duties of a wife.  When she had finished, Petruchio kissed her proudly.
• He has tamed a shrew and katharine was no longer called the Shrew.  She continued to be a loving,kind and dutiful wife, and Petruchio lived proudly and happily with his own sweet Kate.