The Taming of the Shrew: Act 2, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis

In Baptista's house, Katherine is teasing Bianca. She has Bianca's hands tied and asks her which of her suitors she likes the best. Bianca says she is not in love with any of them. Katherine says perhaps Bianca desires a wealthy husband, in which case Gremio would do just fine. Katherine hits Bianca.

Baptista enters and is upset to see Katherine abusing Bianca. He unties Bianca's hands and sends her off to sew. He chastises Katherine, saying Bianca has done her no wrong and has said nothing against her. Katherine replies, "Her silence flouts me, and I'll be revenged!" (ii.1.32) She accuses Baptista of favoring Bianca over her and leaves angrily.

Gremio enters with Lucentio (disguised as Cambio). Petruchio enters with Hortensio (disguised as a tutor named Litio). Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) enters with Biondello. Petruchio introduces himself and tells Baptista he is interested in Katherine. He introduces "Litio" (really Hortensio) as a teacher of math and music, who can instruct Bianca. Baptista thanks him for finding the teacher, but is skeptical that Petruchio really wants Katherine.

Gremio interrupts to introduce "Cambio" (really Lucentio) as a teacher of Greek, Latin, and other languages. Baptista thanks him for the teacher, and then asks who Tranio is. Tranio introduces himself as Lucentio, and says that he is a suitor for Bianca. He presents Baptista with some Greek and Latin books as a gift. Baptista is pleased and says that he knows Lucentio's father. He has a servant lead the two "teachers" inside to Bianca.

Petruchio discusses the dowry for Katherine and assures Baptista that he is strong enough to make Katherine yield to him. He claims, "I am rough and woo not like a babe," (ii.1.144).

Hortensio enters (still disguised as the music-teacher Litio), pale and with an injury on his head. He reveals that he tried to teach Katherine how to play the lute, but she got frustrated and broke the lute over his head. Petruchio is amused and says he loves her even more than before. Baptista tells "Litio" (Hortensio) to try teaching Bianca instead. He goes inside to send Katherine out to meet Petruchio.

Alone on-stage, waiting for Katherine, Petruchio plans how he will woo her. Regardless of what she says, he plans to compliment her and act as if she is being polite and kind. Katherine arrives and Petruchio praises her as beautiful and fair. Katherine tells him to leave, and the pair engage in a long exchange of witty word-play, each using punning to twist the other's words.

Katherine strikes Petruchio and he threatens to "cuff" her if she does so again. The two continue to spar with words and wit. Petruchio says that he has heard that Katherine is "rough, and coy, and sullen," (ii.1.257) but that she is actually pleasant and sweet. Katherine is frustrated by his absurd praise. Petruchio tells her that Baptista has agreed to make him Katherine's husband. He tells her, "I am he am born to tame you, Kate, / And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate/ Conformable as other household Kates," (ii.1.291-293).

Baptista enters with Gremio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio). Katherine complains to her father that he has wed her to a lunatic. Petruchio says that Katherine is modest, patient, and chaste, and announces that they have agreed to marry on the upcoming Sunday. Katherine quips that she'll have him hanged on Sunday. Petruchio says that he and Katherine have agreed that she will pretend to still be ill-mannered and upset in public, but that in private she and he are getting along nicely. Baptista approves of the wedding. Petruchio and Katherine leave, but through different doors.

Baptista now sets his mind to figuring out who Bianca's husband will be. Gremio claims that he loved Bianca first, but Tranio says he loves her more. Baptista breaks up their dispute by saying that whoever offers the better financial situation for Bianca will get her. Gremio lists all of his property and riches. Tranio (speaking as Lucentio) catalogues all the wealth of Lucentio's father (which is even more than what Gremio can offer), to whom he is the sole heir.

Baptista says that he will give Bianca to Lucentio on the Sunday after Katherine and Petruchio's wedding, provided that Lucentio's father guarantees Lucentio's inheritance. Otherwise, Bianca will be married to Gremio. Baptista leaves. Gremio is confident that Lucentio's father will not turn over all his property to Lucentio, and he leaves. Left alone, Tranio plots to find someone he can disguise as Lucentio's father.