Act 4, Scenes 1 and 2 Summary
Scene 1
Katherine and Petruchio arrive at Petruchio’s country estate, where the servants reveal that Petruchio has been behaving far more like a “shrew” than Katherine. During dinner, Petruchio sends away perfectly good meat, claiming it is overcooked, effectively sending Katherine to bed without eating. He then reveals that denying Katherine food and sleep are all a part of his efforts to “curb her mad and headstrong nature.”
Scene 2
Back in Padua, Lucentio—still disguised as Cambio—continues to court Bianca in secret. Hortensio attempts to warn Tranio—still disguised as Lucentio—that his own suit of Bianca is pointless, as she is already in love with someone else. Tranio views this as an opportunity to get another suitor out of the way, so he convinces Hortensio to set aside his interest in Bianca entirely. Hortensio instead decides to court a wealthy widow, hoping to learn from Petruchio’s efforts with Katherine how to handle a headstrong woman.
Tranio then reports to Lucentio, informing him of Hortensio’s departure. They also learn from another servant that a man has arrived in Padua who may make a convincing fake father for Tranio-as-Lucentio. Tranio approaches the man—referred to as “the pedant”—and convinces him to act as Vincentio, Lucentio’s father, and give his blessing to the marriage between Lucentio and Bianca.
Expert Q&A
In The Taming of the Shrew, how does Tranio convince the pedant to impersonate Vincentio in Act 4, Scene 2?
Tranio convinces the pedant to impersonate Vincentio by fabricating a story about a deadly dispute between Mantua and Padua, claiming that the Duke of Mantua has ordered the execution of all Paduan citizens. To save himself, Tranio, disguised as Lucentio, suggests that the pedant should pretend to be Lucentio's father. The pedant agrees to this plan, allowing Tranio to further his scheme of arranging Lucentio's marriage to Bianca.
What is the metaphor in Petruchio's soliloquy in Act 4, Scene 1 of "The Taming of the Shrew"?
In Petruchio's soliloquy in Act 4, Scene 1 of "The Taming of the Shrew," he uses an extended metaphor comparing his wife, Kate, to a falcon he is training. This metaphor illustrates his strategy to "tame" her by denying her food and sleep, much like a falconer controls a bird of prey. The comparison underscores his dispassionate, methodical approach to asserting dominance over Kate, reflecting the era's views on marital roles.
What's an example of a joke between Grumio and Curtis in Act 4, Scene 1 of The Taming of the Shrew?
In Act 4, Scene 1 of The Taming of the Shrew, Grumio jokes with Curtis through wordplay and physical humor. One example is Grumio's pun on "tale" and "tail," where Curtis misunderstands Grumio's story about a fall. Another instance involves slapstick humor when Grumio instructs Curtis to "lend thine ear," then cuffs him, leading Curtis to quip, "This 'tis to feel a tale, not to hear a tale."
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