The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most controversial comedies. In the town of Padua, no one may marry the gentle Bianca until her sharp-tongued older sister Katherina is married first. The confident Petruchio takes on the job, weds Katherina, and then uses a string of strange tactics to wear down her temper. At the end she gives a speech about obeying her husband, so straight-faced that people still argue about whether Shakespeare meant a word of it.
Characters
Famous Quotes
See all quotes →“She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing.”
Petruchio — Act 3, Scene 2
“This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.”
Petruchio — Act 4, Scene 1
“Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee.”
Katharina — Act 5, Scene 2
Further Reading
Best Lines by Shakespeare: Quotes on Life, Love and More
A curated collection of Shakespeare's most famous lines, organised by theme, from love and loss to daily wisdom, sport and celebration. Each quote includes the play it comes from and why it still resonates.
Who Was William Shakespeare? A Complete Life and Biography
The life of Shakespeare: born in Stratford 1564, the Globe, his death in 1616, and the First Folio. The facts, checked.
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