The Taming of the Shrew Summary and Analysis of The Induction

Summary
Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker, stumbles out of an alehouse. After a brief
argument with the alehouses' Hostess, Sly lies on the ground and drifts into a
deep, inebriated sleep. While he sleeps, a mischevious Lord and his followers
spot the sleeping Sly. The Lord decides to play a trick on the drunkard. He
tells his servants to carry Sly to his own noble chambers and pretend that Sly
is in fact a lord.
Soon afterward, a troupe of Players arrives at the Lord's house, intent on
performing that night. The Lord informs them that "a lord" is visiting the
house and will hear them play, and warns them of his "odd behavior." In the
meantime, the Lord orders that his page masquerade as Sly's wife. The page
will then pretend that Sly has been afflicted by lunacy for many years and
has dreamed himself to be no better than a lowly tinker.
Scene two begins as Sly insists that he is his poor and drunken self; in
protest, The Lord insists on Sly's nobility and implores him to wake from his
malady. Sly finally begins to accept his altered social status when he finds
out that he has "a lady far more beautiful/Than any woman in this waning
age" (Ind.2: 62-63). At this, the page plays his part as Sly's wife, rejoicing at
his "recovery," and a messenger readily announces that the Players are
ready to perform. Sly sits beside his "wife" and prepares to take in the
spectacle.

Summary
On a street before Baptista Minola's household, Lucentio appears, accompanied by
his faithful servant Tranio. Lucentio has just arrived in Padua, and he delivers an
introductory monologue in which we learn that he is the son of Vincentio, a wealthy
Pisan, and that he would like to add wisdom and virtue to his hereditary endowments.
Thus he is ready to immerse himself in Padua's culture and learning. Tranio reminds his
master to mix pleasure with learning.
At that moment, an arguing group emerges from Baptista's house. Baptista
tells Hortensio and Gremio, two suitors of his youngest daughter, Bianca, that he is
not prepared to give Bianca away to marriage until his elder daughterKatharina is wed.
Both Hortensio and Gremio rail against Katherina and she, in turn, mocks her sister's
suitors scathingly. Lucentio, who has stepped aside, is immediately captivated by the
weeping Bianca. As he consoles his youngest daughter, Baptista tells the two suitors
that he is looking for schoolmasters to instruct Bianca at home and would appreciate

their help in finding some. Once alone, Gremio and Hortensio agree to put aside their
rivalry until they have found someone to wed the "froward" Katharina.
Lucentio then tells Tranio that he is madly in love with Bianca and vows to win her hand.
He hatches a plan to bypass Baptista's kibosh on wooing Bianca by dressing up as a
schoolteacher and offering his services. Meanwhile, Tranio agrees to pretend to be
Lucentio. They tell Lucentio's other servant, Biondello, that Lucentio must disguise
himself in order to avoid persecution for having killed a man in a duel.
As scene two begins, Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, appears with his
servant Grumio. He has come to Padua to see his friends, "but of all/My best beloved
and approved friend,/Hortensio." (1.2: 2-4) A comic beating of Grumio leads to
Hortensio's enterance, whereupon Petruchio explains that he is looking for a rich wife.
Hortensio mentions Katharina, telling Petruchio that she is rich but a shrew; Petruchio
however, isn't bothered by Hortensio's description - he is willing to wed anyone with
enough money. Grumio interjects that, no matter how sharp-tongued Katharina may be,
she could not match the rhetorical weaponry Petruchio has at his disposal.
Hortensio then asks Petruchio to present to Baptista, "disguised in sober robes" (1.2:
130), as a schoolmaster. At the same time, Lucentio appears disguised as the
schoolmaster Cambio. Lucentio has convinced the old suitor, Gremio, that he will plead
his case to Bianca. Hortensio states to Gremio that he too has found someone who will
teach Bianca music, and adds that Petruchio is willing to wed Katharina.
Meanwhile, Tranio appears, dressed as Lucentio and accompanied by Biondello. He
announces that he is going to woo the fair Bianca - whom, he claims, he has never even
seen. Gremio and Hortensio are worried at the sight of a rival, especially one with the
suavity Tranio manages to convey. "What," Gremio exclaims, "this gentleman will outtalk us all!" (1.2: 245) Petruchio, meanwhile, because his wooing of Katharina is
primary, is able to wrest payment from all three of Bianca's suitors to cover his
expenses
. Summary
Inside Baptista's home, Katharina has bound her sister's hands. She demands
that Bianca say which of her suitors she prefers, and when Bianca does not, Katharina
slaps her. Baptista enters and rescues his younger daughter, reprimanding Katharina.
Katharina rails against him as well before leaving Baptista alone to greet the arrival
of Gremio,Lucentio (disguised as Cambio), Petruchio, Hortensio (disguised as
Litio), Tranio (disguised as Lucentio), and Biondello.

Shocking Baptista, Petruchio explains that he has come to Padua from Verona to verify
reports of Katharina's modesty and meekness, and has brought with him musician to
instruct Katharina. Baptista is skeptical until Petruchio remarks that he is the son of
Antonio, whereupon Baptista, who knows the man well, welcomes the suitor to his
house. Gremio, in turn, presents Lucentio as a Latin teacher. Appropriately, Gremio
introduces the disguised Lucentio as Cambio (Italian for "change").
Tranio next explains that he is a suitor to Bianca, alludes to his wealthy parentage and
requests to be granted as much access as her other suitors; as a token of appreciation,
he presents a lute and a packet of Greek and Latin books. As soon as Tranio notes that
he is "son to Vincentio" of Pisa (2.1: 103), Baptista grants him the access he seeks.
Baptista then calls for a servant to escort the tutors to his daughters.
Petruchio then abruptly demands of Baptista what dowry he will receive when he
marries Katharina, upon which Baptista replies: "After my death the one half of my
lands,/And in possession twenty thousand crowns." (2.1: 121-122) Petruchio is satisfied,
and reassures Baptista that he will successfully woo the feisty Katharina. Just then,
Hortensio reenters with a broken lute on his head, explaining that, when he tried to
correct Katharina's fingering on the instrument, she promptly attacked him with it.
Petruchio, far from disturbed, declares that he is all the more eager to "chat with her."
Soon Katharina appears and the others leave Petruchio to woo her. A battle of wits
ensues, filled with sexual puns and insults. Petruchio indicates that, whether she wants
to or not, he will take her for his wife. Baptista, Gremio, and Tranio join them and
Petruchio happily informs the men that he has won Katharina's heart and that the two
will be married on Sunday. Katharina snaps back: "I'll see thee hanged on Sunday first."
(2.1: 296) Petruchio reassures his companions that Kate and he have agreed that while
in public she will remain "curst" though they will be affectionate in private.
He takes Katharina by his arm and exits, leaving Baptista, Gremio, and Tranio to marvel
at the speed of his conquest. Now that Katharina seems to be taken care of, Baptista
moves on to the subject of his younger daughter, promising her to whomever procures
the "greatest dower." It is soon clear that it Tranio's (that is, Lucentio's) wealth is greater.
However, Baptista notes that he requires Tranio's father's "assurance" (2.1: 385) that
Tranio has the wealth available. If this assurance is procured, Bianca belongs to Tranio;
if not, she goes to Gremio. Tranio determines to find someone to play the part of
Vincentio, in order to allow him to win Bianca.

Summary

Lucentio and Hortensio, disguised respectively as Cambio and Litio, vie for the
attention of the fair Bianca. Bianca seems thoroughly amused by the competition, and
decides that Lucentio may lecture her while Hortensio tunes his lute; once the
instrument is in tune, Hortensio may then take over the lesson. Lucentio leaps into
action with his "lesson," confessing his identity and his love under the guise of a Latin
translation. Bianca responds with her own variant of the game, telling him, through her
own "translation," that she does not know him and cannot trust him - but that he should
"despair not." (3.1: 44) Hortensio fares less well than Lucentio when he tries to confess
his love through a scale on the lute. Bianca dismisses the rouse and all but Hortensio
exit at a servant's bidding to help prepareKatharina's room for her wedding tomorrow.
Alone on stage, Hortensio notes that Cambio appeared to be courting Bianca, and
declares that if Bianca is unable to be faithful to him, he won't be faithful to her either.
The next day, the company all wait in preparation for Katharina's wedding. Petruchio,
however, is no where to be seen. Katharina, for her part, breaks down and runs from the
scene weeping, and for once Baptista sympathizes with her. At that
moment Biondello rushes in and says that Petruchio is on his way, wearing
outrageously distasteful clothes, riding a diseased horse only a step away from death,
and accompanied by a servant as badly dressed as his master. When Petruchio finally
appears, with Grumio at his side, his appearance lives up to Biondello's fanciful
account. Baptista and the others are mortified. Petruchio, however, refuses to dignify his
appearance, and they follow him to his wedding.
Lucentio and Tranio remain while the rest attend Petruchio's wedding. Tranio explains
that Baptista requires Vincentio's assurance and declares his intention to disguise
someone as Vincentio. Their plotting is cut short, however, as Gremioappears and
provides a detailed account of the raucous wedding, wherein Petruchio scandalized the
company.
The wedding party arrives and Petruchio claims that he must leave and cannot stay for
his own wedding dinner. Katharina entreats that her husband wait for her. However,
Petruchio sweeps Katharina away dramatically. The scene ends with the dazed Baptista
telling Tranio that the feast will go on as planned, and that he and Bianca may take the
seats of the bride and bridegroom.
Inside Petruchio's country abode, Grumio is busy making a fire and complaining about
the cold in preparation for his master and mistress' arrival. Curtis, another of
Petruchio's servants, has not yet met the new bride and asks if she is as shrewish as
reported. Grumio assures him that Petruchio is the greater shrew of the two.

When Petruchio arrives he behaves tyranically, beating his servants for trivial faults.
Kate begs her husband not to behave so unjustly. When they sit down to dinner
Petruchio claims that the meat is overcooked and storms off to bed with Kate. He
reappears and explains his intention to tame the shrew by out-shrewing her: he will
mistreat her and deprive her of what she needs, all under the guise of kindness and
love. Thus, by insisting that neither her food nor her bed are worthy of her, he will wear
out her spirit with lack of nourishment and sleep.
Meanwhile, in Padua, Hortensio is disgusted by the flirtation of Bianca and "Cambio,"
and shares his disgust with Tranio, who he takes to be noble. At Tranio's suggestion,
the two vow to cease pursuing Bianca if she would flirt with a lowly schoolteacher.
Hortensio states that he has decided to wed a wealthy widow instead of Bianca, leaving
"Cambio" to woo Bianca alone. Biondello rushes in to aid their attempt, claiming that
an old Pedant from Mantua approaches. Tranio tricks the Pedant into assuming the
guise of Vincentio of Pisa after concocting a story that any Mantuan is to be summarily
executed in Padua. The Pedant agrees to the disguise and Tranio fills him in on his
courtship of Bianca.
Scene three of the Act finds us back at Petruchio's house, where Kate complains that
she is famished. Grumio, like Petruchio, refuses to bring her any food, protesting that
none of it is good enough for her. Katharina then loses her temper and beats Grumio.
Petruchio enters with a plate of meat and Hortensio by his side. He demands that
Katharina thank him for the meat while telling Hortensio to eat it all himself.
Petruchio next tells Katharina that the two of them will shortly return to her father's
house, dressed in the best finery. A Haberdasher and Tailor appear, with a cap and
gown respectively. Petruchio violently dismisses both items over the protestations of
Kate, who likes them. She seems polite and kind compared to Petruchio. Her husband,
however, refuses to allow her to dress up, declaring that clothes are of little importance
and that he and Kate will arrive atBaptista's "in these honest, mean habiliments." (4.3:
166) He calls for the horses and proclaims he will be at the house by noon. Katharina
notes that it is already two o'clock, prompting her husband to berate her for constantly
contradicting him.
Scene four takes us to Padua again, where Tranio and the Pedant (disguised as
Vincentio), meet with Baptista. "Vincentio" grants his permission for his son and Bianca
to be wed and guarantees Bianca a large dower. These claims prove satisfactory for
Baptista, who readily agrees to the marriage, but decides against conducting the formal
contract and agreement inside his own house, for fear that Gremio and his servants
may be listening and might interrupt. Tranio offers his own house, noting that the
banquet will not be a grand affair but promising a better one later on in

Pisa.Lucentio and Bianca, meanwhile, on Biondello's advice, elope to be married posthaste while Baptista is with Tranio and the Pedant.
In scene five, Kate and Petruchio are on the road to Padua again. Petruchio continues
his shrewish behavior, insisting that the sun is the moon and threatening to turn the cart
around if Kate doesn't agree. Kate finally begins to play along, agreeing that the sun is
the moon and then changing her opinion when Petruchio changes his. This game is
interrupted by the appearance of the real Vincentio, Lucentio's father, whom Petruchio
refers to as a "gentlewoman" (4.5: 29); he insists that Kate agree, and she does so,
calling him a "budding virgin."
A bit shaken by their jesting, Vincentio introduces himself, noting that he is on his way to
Padua to visit his son. Petruchio informs the man that they are now family - for Lucentio
has married the sister of Katharina. Vincentio is shocked and asks Petruchio if he is
joking. Petruchio assures him that he is not and invites Vincentio along. The party
leaves, after which Hortensio, alone on the stage, confides that he is encouraged and
will now go to the widow he intends to wed.

Summary
Lucentio, no longer disguised as Cambio, steals away with Bianca to church just
before Petruchio, Katharina, Vincentioand Grumio arrive. Vincentio knocks on
Lucentio's door, which the Pedant answers. When Vincentio claims to be Lucentio's
father, the Pedant denies this and insists that he himself is Lucentio's father. A heated
argument ensues and escalates as Vincentio sees Lucentio's
servants, Biondello and Tranio, complicit in the deception. Vincentio beats Biondello
and accuses Tranio of murdering and impersonating Lucentio. Petruchio and Kate,
meanwhile, step aside and enjoy the unfolding farce.
Tranio and Baptista call for an officer, claiming that Vincentio is mad, and the
controversy rages until Lucentio and Bianca return from their hasty wedding. Seeing
that their game is finally up, Tranio, the Pedant, and Biondello all scatter away. Lucentio
pleads for his father's forgiveness, explaining the situation to him and assuring him of
Tranio's innocence in the matter. Though still fuming, Vincentio grants his approval of
Lucentio and Bianca's union and assures Baptista: "Fear not, [...] we will content you."
(5.1: 127) The scene ends with Kate bantering with Petruchio and granting him a
reluctant kiss.

In the play's final scene, the assembled company enjoys a banquet in Lucentio's home.
There are three newlywed couples - Kate and Petruchio, Lucentio and Bianca
and Hortensio and the Widow. The women leave and Baptista remarks that Petruchio
has married "the veriest shrew of all." (5.2: 64) Petruchio heartily disagrees, and
proposes a wager - the men agree on a hundred crowns - to determine "whose wife is
most obedient." (5.2: 67) Both Hortensio and Lucentio bid their wives to come as part of
the bargain, and both wives refuse. The one wife who does follow the order is, to all but
Petruchio's surprise, Katharina. Petruchio, to prove the point even further, asks
Katharina to bring forth the other two wives, which she promptly does. Petruchio then
requests that she "tell these headstrong women/What duty they do owe their lords and
husbands." (5.2: 134-135) Katharina does as asked, delivering a long speech on a
wife's duty to her husband.