The Taming of the Shrew

Question 1

What is the pre-story?

Answer 1

• Katharine was the oldest daughter of Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua
• She was a lady with such an ungovernable temper and such a loud and angry tongue that she was known in Padua by no other name than Katharine the Shrew
• It seemed unlikely, even impossible, that any gentleman would ever be found who would dare to marry this lady
• > So Baptista was much criticized because he refused to give his agreement to many excellent offers that were made to her gentle sister, Bianca, saying that until the oldest sister was married, young Bianca would not be free to take a husband

Question 2

Who is Petruchio and what is aim?

Answer 2

• But it happened that a gentleman named Petruchio came to Padua with the aim of looking for a wife
• Not being discouraged by these accounts of Katharine’s temper, and hearing that she was rich and beautiful, he was determined to marry this famous shrew and to tame her into a gentle wife who would obey him

Question 3

Describe the personality of Petruchio

Answer 3

• He (from Verona) was as spirited as Katharine and he was an amusing and good-natured person
• He was also clever and wise enough to know how to pretend to be angry and cold when he was in fact so calm that he could have laughed happily at his own ability to pretend