The Taming of the Shrew - Synopsis
Set in Padua, Lucentio and other suitors pursue Bianca – BaptistaMinola’s youngest daughter, but are told by him that her bad-tempered older sister, Katherine, must marry first. They encourage Petruchio, who has come to Padua to find a wealthy wife, to court Katherine and free Bianca to marry.
Petruchio negotiates marriage terms with Baptista, then has a stormy meeting with Katherine, after which he assures Baptista that the two have agreed to marry. Petruchio arrives late to their wedding dressed in strange clothes; he behaves rudely and carries Katherine away before the wedding dinner. At his home, he embarks on a plan to “tame” Katherine as one would tame a wild hawk. Starved and kept without sleep, Katherine eventually agrees with everything Petruchio says, however absurd. He takes her back to Padua, where they attend Bianca’s wedding. There Katherine proves more obedient to her husband than the other wives, whom she chastises before she and Petruchio go off to consummate their marriage.
The Taming of the Shrew Character List
Age indications are suggestions only
We won’t be doing the Christopher Sly Introduction or Conclusion of the play,
Petruchio (male) 30’s – 40’s
Son of Antonio, a resident of Verona, and intent on finding a wife, Petruchio arrives in Padua ready to take any woman so long as enough money is involved. Katharina's dowry is all that matters to him at the outset, but her cleverness and "shrewishness" seem to excite him genuinely.
Lucentio (male) 20’s - 30’s
The ostensible romantic lead of the play. Lucentio proves more conventional than his more outspoken and vivacious friend, Petruchio. Both men are well-off, but it is Lucentio who can claim a father "of incomparable wealth"; he hails from Pisa and has come to Padua to pursue his education. His purely academic goals fall to pieces, however, when he sees Bianca. For the rest of the play, Lucentio single-mindedly pursues her.
Katharina/Kate (female) 20’s – 30’s
The "shrew." When she first appears, Katharina lashes out at Hortensio and Gremio, shocking one spectator - Tranio - and delighting the others. She is consistently clever, strong-willed and vibrant, an attractive contrast to her sister Bianca. When she seems finally subjugated at the play's end, Shakespeare subtly suggests that she may yet have the upper hand.
Bianca (female) 20’s – 30’s
Bianca is the younger daughter of BaptistaMinola.She has the opposite personality of her sister being sweet, as she shows no tendency to anger and violence. As such there are suitors who want to be her husband, her father wants Kate to be married first.
BaptistaMinola (male) 50+
A wealthy gentleman of Padua, father of Katharina and Bianca. He outspokenly prefers his more well-behaved daughter and has no compunction about referring to Katharina as "the veriest shrew of all."
Tranio (male)20’s - 30’s
Lucentio's principal attendant. He assumes Lucentio's identity in order to help him win Bianca's heart, and by doing so suggests that all that separates a master from his servant is language and dress.
Hortensio (male) 30’s – 40’s
One of Bianca's suitors. Pompous and foolish. Though posited at the outset as a significant rival, he soon enough takes Tranio's bait and runs off to marry a wealthy widow.
Gremio (male) 50+
An old, foolish suitor of the young and beautiful Bianca. He is the only one of the various suitors in the play who winds up with nothing at the end.
Grumio (male) 30’s – 50’s
Petruchio's servant. He often speaks his mind, playfully twisting words around, but he is very clearly a servant. He never gets the chance to play the master as Tranio does. Instead, both Petruchio and Katharina beat and ridicule him mercilessly.
Vincentio (male) 50+
Lucentio's wealthy father.
Biondello (male or female pants role) 20’s
Another servant of Lucentio's.
A Widow (female) 30+
Hastily courted and wed by Hortensio, the widow is rich, and therefore does not remain unmarried for long.
Curtis (male)
Another of Petruchio's servants.
A Pedant (male) 50+
From Mantua. When Petruchio tricks him into believing that all Mantuans are condemned to die, he disguises himself as Vincentio.
A Tailor (male or female)
Insulted by Petruchio. A dress maker. Also commissioned by Grumio for Petruchio. Instructed to make a dress for Katharine.
A Haberdasher (male or female)
Insulted by Petruchio.A hat maker. Commissioned by Grumio for Petruchio to make a hat for Katherine after she and Petruchio are married.
Nathaniel/Nathania, Philip/Philipa, Joseph/Josepha, Nicholas/Nicola, Peter/Petra (male or female)
Servants, likewise insulted by Petruchio.