The Taming Of The Shrew
Character List
Petruccio: A rich gentleman of Verona, and suitor to Katherine, (the Shrew
of the story) daughter of Baptista.
In Petruccio, Katherine literally meets her match, if not better. He
is as fiery and stubborn as she, but despite, or possibly because
of the fireworks in their relationship, in their own inimitable way
their match becomes a true love match. Is Katherine really tamed
by him, or does she mellow through love and respect for him?
They are prepared to show their love for each other publicly, and
he refuses, ultimately to allow her to submit to him publicly in
the play’s final scene. It is open to interpretation
Baptista: A rich gentlman of Padua and father to both Katherine and Bianca,
Kate’s younger, and seemingly more biddable sister. There are
plenty of suitors to the beautiful Bianca’s hand, but canny old
Baptista insists that a suitor be found for Katherine first, perhaps,
realising that if he allows Bianca to marry first, there will never
be another male crossing his threshold, to even give him a chance
of marrying off Katherine!
Hortensio: Another gentleman of Padua, friend to Petruccio, and suitor to
Bianca. It is a visit to Hortensio, that brings Petruccio to Padua.
Petruccio has come into his inheritance following the death of his
Father, and is looking for a wife, preferably a rich one. Hortensio
sees an opportunity to marry off Katherine to his friend and
secure Bianca for himself. His plottings involve disguises and
some comic happenings but he eventually fails in his suit and
goes off and marries a widow.
Gremio: Yet another gentleman of Padua. An elderly suitor to Bianca’s
Hand. He is, therefore, a rival to Hortensio. They have each been
trying to persuade Baptista to allow Bianca to marry but are thwarted
by Baptista’s determination to get rid of Katherine first. The only
men that Baptista will allow into his house and therefore close to his
daughters are teachers, in music or languages etc. hence Hortensio’s
disguise, (as a music teacher). Gremio also finds a young man to
teach Bianca. Unknown to Gremio it is young Lucentio, a young
gentleman of Pisa come to study in Padua, and who has fallen in love
with Bianca! So, Gremio’s suit also fails! He goes off to count his
ducats!
Lucentio: The young man of Pisa. His father is a very rich merchant called
Vincentio. He has sent his son to the university city of Padua to
study. He is accompanied by his faithful servant, Tranio, (and possibly
Biondello if we have enough people!). On his arrival he sees and falls
instantly in love with Bianca. Lucentio and Tranio overhear the
conversation about the providing of teachers for Kate and Bianca.
They agree to swap places and, in disguise, Lucentio becomes a
teacher to Bianca, unwittingly supplied by Gremio!! Love conquers
all, however, and Lucentio and Bianca ultimately wed, in secret, (who
said Kate was the undutiful daughter?), obtaining their fathers’
blessings afterwards.
Tranio: Lucentio’s faithful servant who dons his master’s clothes and
identity to allow Lucentio to chat up Bianca. Pretending to be
Lucentio, he wins the battle for Bianca’s hand in marriage as her
richest suitor, but then has to find a pretend Vincentio,(Lucentio’s
father), to guarantee the money he has offered Baptista upon the
marriage taking place!! Lives on his wits.
Grumio: Servant to Petruccio. A strong and witty character. He has to live
with Petruccio after all. He will stand up to his master, and new
mistress, which provides some comic and witty dialogue. Where
Petruccio goes the faithful Grumio follows. He is always himself
And doesn’t succumb to disguising himself. Quite a lively
Character with some very good and funny dialogue.
Vincentio: Lucentio’s father. He arrives unexpectedly in Padua to visit his
son. At this point, Tranio is posing as Lucentio, and a substitute
for Vincentio is in place also. There is a very comical scene as
the real Vincentio arrives in Padua and is almost arrested as an
imposter!! He has arrived in Padua with Petruccio and Katherine
who he met on the road.(They’re returning to Baptista’s house for
a feast to celebrate their wedding, Bianca’s and Hortensio’s) He
is saved from being hauled into gaol by the arrival on the scene
of the newlywed real Lucentio and Bianca.
The Pedant: This is the person who pretends to be Vincentio. He arrives in
Padua to be accosted by Tranio, (on the look-out for a stand-in
Vincentio), and told that due to a row between the rulers of his
City and those of Padua, his life is at risk while he is in the city.
Tranio, offers to assist him, by suggesting he pretends to be
Vincentio! Although an honest man, he vociferously argues
with the real Vincentio as to who is who, as he is in fear of his
life.
Katherine: The shrew of the tale. The eldest daughter of Baptista. She is
Outspoken, stubborn, and one would guess, intelligent. Also she
has never met any man who could stand up to her, or whom she
could respect. They are all terrified of her. Not a happy lady:then
she meets Petruccio. The rest you know.
Bianca:
Katherine’s younger and seemingly conformable sister. Ironically
she is the one who flouts all the rules of good behaviour by
agreeing to a clandestine marriage with Lucentio, (the real one!).
Katherine in contrast, once she knows that her father has given
his permission to her marriage to Petruccio, turns up at the church
albeit reluctantly, and goes ahead even when Petruccio turns up
dressed in an embarrassingly dreadful outfit. Another comic
moment.
Follow any of that? Confusing isn’t it?