Scene summary - The Taming of the Shrew
Scene summary - Act 1 scene i
In Act 1 scene i we meet Baptista Minola, a gentleman of Padua, a city in Italy. He has two daughters and Katherine is the elder. Though she is good-looking, she is a shrew that is a bad-tempered, quarrelsome young woman with a sharp tongue. Bianca, the younger daughter, is beautiful and apparently sweet-natured, so, while there are many suitors for Bianca, no young man wants to marry Katherine. Baptista decides that he will not allow Bianca to marry until Katherine finds a husband. His decision is the initial incident of the play. The action of the play arises out of this decision.
Lucentio, with his servant Tranio, has just arrived in Padua to do a course at the famous university in that town. In the opening speech of the play Lucentio expresses his pleasure at being there with his father's blessing in the good company of Tranio. The young man sounds quite eager to study, but his plans are about to be disrupted.
As they are talking their attention is attracted by a Baptista, his daughters and two men, Gremio and Hortensio the latter we discover wants to marry Bianca. Baptista's firm decision that Katherine must marry first draws objections from Katherine and Gremio and Hortensio. But Baptista is determined and says he will employ tutors to instruct Bianca and keep her busy with music, instruments and poetry.
The two men, Gremio and Hortensio, decide to find a husband for Katherine and, in the meantime, to look for tutors for Bianca. When they leave the square, Lucentio tells his servant, Tranio, that he has fallen in love with Bianca. He and his servant put their heads together and come up with a plan. Lucentio will masquerade as a schoolmaster and undertake to teach Bianca. Tranio is not sure if this plan will work as Lucentio will be missed, so Lucentio suggests that Tranio should pretend to be him (Lucentio). As no one in Padua knows them except Lucentio's other servant, Biondello, they think their plan will work. When Biondello arrives they tell him a tall story of how Lucentio killed a man and now has to wear a disguise. Biondello promises to play along with the disguises.
Scene summary - Act 1 scene ii
Act 1 scene ii brings an answer to the wishes of Bianca's suitors, that someone will come along to marry Kate. Petruchio, accompanied by his servant Grumio, arrives in Padua to visit his friend Hortensio. Having lost his father recently, Petruchio is wealthy enough to get married. Hortensio jokingly tells him about the beautiful, wealthy woman who, unfortunately, is a shrew. Little does he expect Petruchio to be interested, but he is, and impatient to meet her! The young men set off to the Minola household and on the way Hortensio tells his friend about his love for Bianca who is shut away from all suitors until Katherine finds a husband.
They meet Gremio and Lucentio who is disguised as Cambio, a schoolmaster. No one (except Tranio and Biondello) knows, of course, who Cambio really is or that he is in love with Bianca. In fact, Gremio is going to present Lucentio (Cambio) as a tutor for Bianca. If Gremio knew that Lucentio wants to woo Bianca for himself he would not be so eager to introduce him to Baptista. Hortensio plans to pose as a music teacher but is keeping his plans a secret at the moment. Tranio, posing as Lucentio, arrives with Biondello and declares he, too, is a suitor for the hand of the fair Bianca. Gremio and Hortensio object to this, but
Tranio easily defends his right to woo her. The three men wish Petruchio good luck in winning Katherine because that will set Bianca free to get married.
Scene summary - Act 2 scene i
Katherine has tied Bianca's hands behind her back and is bullying her when their father enters. Baptista is shocked and orders Katherine to untie her. He cannot understand why Bianca, who is apparently so gentle and has done Katherine no harm, should be treated so badly. Katherine, however, is unrepentant, feels she has been wronged and vows vengeance.
Baptista, bemoaning his bad luck in having such a daughter, is visited by several gentlemen - Gremio, Petruchio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio).
Gremio is ignorant of Lucentio's disguise and presents him to Baptista as the tutor, Cambio; so Cambio (that is, Lucentio) is to teach Greek and Latin and other languages to the sisters.
Hortensio is disguised as Litio, a music and mathematics teacher for the girls.
Tranio as Lucentio, accompanied by Biondello, brings gifts of books and a lute, declaring that he is another suitor for Bianca.
When Petruchio tells Baptista that he wishes to woo and wed Katherine, the old man is surprised, but Petruchio is serious and soon Katherine is brought out to meet him.
Petruchio speaks positively about Katherine to her father and most courteously to her. It is interesting to analyse the method Petruchio uses with her. He behaves as badly as she but pretends that her behaviour is quite the opposite of what it actually is. When she insults him in public, he declares that by mutual consent she will still be nasty in company, but when they are alone she is the kindest woman and loves him dearly.
Petruchio fixes the wedding day for Sunday and goes to Venice to shop for rings and things and fine array. Kate is to be ready and Baptista has to organize the wedding feast.
No sooner has Petruchio left than Gremio and Tranio present themselves as suitors for Bianca. Baptista finds it difficult to choose between the two eligible men and so decides his daughter will marry the one with the most wealth. Tranio wins by out-bidding Gremio with outrageous claims to wealth. As the audience we enjoy this competition particularly as we can work out that Tranio is having fun being Lucentio and is determined to win on behalf of his master. Baptista says Tranio will have to make this assurance by Sunday or else Bianca will go to Gremio.
When Petruchio and Katherine meet each other they are not in love at all. Petruchio merely wishes to win a rich woman to be his wife and he seems to be a man who loves a challenge. Katherine is not won easily and she puts up a good fight.
Scene summary - Act 3 scene ii
Petruchio now begins to put into practice his ideas for taming a shrew.
It is the day of Katherine and Petruchio's marriage, but there is no sign of Petruchio. Baptista is upset because he feels his family has been slighted and Katherine weeps bitterly because she feels she has been jilted. Suddenly Biondello enters and announces that Petruchio is, after all, arriving but in very strange clothes.
Although relieved to see the bridegroom arrive, Baptista and the others are stunned by his appearance. What's worse is that Petruchio means to fetch his bride and marry her while dressed in these quite mad clothes.
Lucentio and Tranio realise that it is now time to act quickly. Once Kate is married Bianca's many suitors will all be trying to get Baptista's consent. To win the father, Tranio has to find a man who will pretend to be Lucentio's father and speak to Baptista on behalf of his son.
We hear about the most unusual marriage ceremony of Kate and Petruchio from Gremio. Soon the bridal couple arrive and Petruchio stuns everyone by saying he cannot wait for the bridal feast and must rush back home. Neither pleas nor threats change his mind and, while family and friends go into the feast, Petruchio, Kate and Grumio set off for Verona.
Scene summary - Act 4 scene i
Grumio is sent ahead to make sure there's a fire burning in the house before the newly weds come home. He explains to another servant, Curtis, how Petruchio has changed and how he is treating Kate.
When Petruchio arrives he is hard on them, demanding their attention. So cruel is he that Kate is moved to defend them. He calls for food and when it is brought he rejects it, claiming it is burnt. Refusing to feed her on "over-roasted flesh", he decides they should go to bed, so Kate, tired and hungry, has no choice but to go to sleep hungry. The servants are astounded and one of them, Peter, says: He kills her in her own humour. Petruchio ends the scene explaining to us what he is doing. He plans not to let her eat or sleep in order to tame her - but he will pretend to do it in reverent care of her.
Scene summary - Act 4 scene ii
Tranio and Hortensio discuss Lucentio's manner of wooing Bianca and, as they watch the lovers, both of them decide to give up their designs on the young woman. Of course Tranio sets up this move to get rid of Hortensio as Bianca's suitor. Gremio is out of the way for the moment and once Hortensio gives up Bianca, the way is clear for Lucentio to woo and win Bianca. Tranio soon tells Bianca that both he and Hortensio have forsworn her. (Hortensio decides to marry a wealthy widow who has been keen on him for some time.)
With Hortensio out of the way, Tranio pursues his plan to seal Baptista's approval by producing a father to back up his claims to wealth. After a long wait, Biondello finds a traveller (we are not told his name, he is referred to as the Pedant) who looks the right age to be Lucentio's father, Vincentio. Tranio convinces the visitor that because he (the Pedant) comes from Mantua his life is in danger in Padua. The poor man is worried enough to accept Tranio's offer of help against what he thinks is certain death. There's a catch, of course. The Pedant must pretend to be Vincentio from Pisa, Lucentio's father, and speak on his behalf to Baptista, Bianca's father. Tranio, who is still pretending to be Lucentio, is so persuasive that the Pedant is only too willing to oblige.
Baptista, unaware of all Tranio's plottings, is pleased with what the fake "Vincentio" has to say. He sends Biondello to tell Bianca to come to supper for she is to marry Lucentio (who, don't forget, is really Tranio in disguise).
How will Tranio wriggle out of what could be a most embarrassing situation? He and Biondello plan that the real Lucentio (disguised as Cambio) will go to fetch Bianca and quickly marry her on the way to supper.
Scene summary - Act 4 scene iii
The scene shifts to Petruchio's house. Katherine is starving, giddy from lack of sleep. What really annoys her, she complains to Grumio, is that Petruchio treats her really badly and all in the name of love. Grumio tempts her with food, but is as cruel as Petruchio and does not give her any.
Petruchio and Hortensio come in next, bearing food. Kate is rather cranky by now and Petruchio almost does not give her the food because she is not thankful. She hastens to thank him and Hortensio decides to share the meal with her.
Almost before Kate has a chance to taste the first mouthful, Petruchio announces that they will return to Kate's father's home dressed in the fine things he has ordered from a tailor. The tailor, he says, has already arrived with the outfit and is waiting for Kate. Petruchio calls the tailor and haberdasher in and systematically criticises their goods. Petruchio rejects the cap first and then the gown the tailor has sewn and announces that he and Kate will go back to Padua in whatever clothes they have, but with plenty of money. It's quite late in the day, but Petruchio decides to leave immediately and says they will be there by dinnertime. When Kate protests that it is almost two and that they would not arrive before supper, he is quite offended and says he will not go until she accepts the time he says it is. She gives in. By the end of Act 4 scene iii Kate has begun to understand what Petruchio requires of her and she goes along, humouring him and letting him have his way.
Scene summary - Act 4 scene iv
On the way to Padua Petruchio continues to be contrary. He calls the sun the moon, and when Kate contradicts, he threatens to go back if she will not agree with him. Hortensio begs Kate to give in so that they can continue on their way. No sooner does she agree that it is the moon and not the sun than Petruchio changes his mind and says it is the sun. But Kate has learnt to humour him and agrees it is the blessed sun. The game continues until they meet the real Vincentio who is on his way to Padua to meet his son, the real Lucentio. Petruchio calls him a young gentlewoman and Kate agrees whereupon Petruchio recognises him to be an old, wrinkled man and Kate straightaway corrects herself. The old man is quite confused with the madness of their greeting.
Petruchio informs Vincentio that his son, Lucentio, is married to Kate's sister, a wonderful girl, beautiful and wealthy. They proceed together to Padua after Vincentio is convinced that their initial treatment of him was just a joke.
Hortensio is in awe of Petruchio's taming of the shrewish Kate. He feels he has learnt how to handle the Widow should she be froward.
Scene summary - Act 5 scene i
Lucentio leaves for the church accompanied by Biondello. Meanwhile Petruchio, Kate and the others arrive at Lucentio's house and because the Pedant has been pretending to be Vincentio and Tranio has been pretending to be Lucentio, there is a merry mix-up. Tranio and Biondello refuse to recognise Vincentio and when Baptista arrives he puts the real Vincentio in gaol as an impostor.
Lucentio arrives just in time to save the real Vincentio by acknowledging him as his father. The truth is soon out, the disguises admitted but there are many explanations to be made.
Scene summary - Act 5 scene ii
A lavish banquet celebrates the wedding of Lucentio and Bianca. Kate and the Widow, whom Hortensio has married, exchange some sharp words and are goaded on by their respective husbands. Soon the women go away and leave the men who begin to boast about the control each of them has over his wife.
Lucentio and Hortensio bet against Petruchio who is confident that Kate is the most obedient wife of the three. Bianca and the Widow do not come when summoned, but Kate does and so Petruchio wins the wager. Kate and Petruchio leave the banquet.
Taming Kat – Scene summary 1