Key Characters Flashcards
Katharina Minola
Cantankerous, jealous (over treatment of sister), hostile (towards suitors). Is she tamed at the end of the book?
Baptista
Wealthy, desperate, superficial. Father of Katharina and Bianca. Looking to marry off his daughters to wealthy husbands.
Petruchio
Ambiguous motives, upholds the belief that women should be submissive, strong willed and eccentric (a shrew himself?), comedy of marriage
Bianca
‘Sweet’, ‘innocent’, beautiful, deceptive. Younger sister of Katharina. Lots of suitors and understands how to behave to get them, fits with the societal expectation of women, subverts gender norms , especially in act 5
Lucentio
Good natured, romantic, used to mock typical romance, disguises himself as a teacher, Cambio
Hortensio
Friend of Petruchio and suitor to Bianca, disguises himself as a teacher, Litio.
Gremio
Older suitor to Bianca. Equivalent of pantaloon in commedia dell’arte; creates a barrier to young people getting together
Tranio
Loyal servant to Lucentio; disguises himself as Lucentio to help him win Bianca. Cheerful, talks himself into situations he may later regret. Seems to relish opportunity to act as Lucentio.
Grumio
Petruchio’s servant and fool, source of comic relief, slapstick humour.
Biondello
Servant to Tranio and Lucentio - demonstrates hierarchical nature of society and enthusiastic about disguises and deceit. One of the first to be threatened with punishment in Act 5.
Vincentio
Father to Lucentio. Arrives at the end of the play. Prestigious. Name carries weight. Confused over disguises and threatens servants with punishments when all is revealed.
Widow
Marries Hortensio after he accepts he will not win Bianca’s hand. Subverts gender norms/expectations
Sly
Drunken, low social status - embraces opportunity to be a Lord. Clashes with landlady and source of bawdy humour
