Act One Flashcards
Lucentio, on seeing Bianca for the first time. Mocks the melodramatic nature of love poetry popular at the time. Establishes Lucentio as a slightly ridiculous character
“I burn, I pine, I perish”
Katherina, addressing her father’s intentions to marry her off. Expresses her disdain for being bought and sold like an object. No one wants to marry her and she doesn’t want to marry anyone either
“I pray you, sir, is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates?”
Hortensio, telling Petruchio about Baptista’s insistence that both of his daughters marry. Display of the men’s disdain towards her as they happily insult her due to how she restricts access to her more desirable sister. She is not seen as a full person by the men around her
“Katherina the curst”
Petruchio, dismissing the other men’s concerns with his plan to marry Katherina. Shows his arrogance and inflated ego. Compares Katherina to an animal that needs to be tamed
“Have I not in my time heard lions roar?”
Hortensio, describing the problems of the three suitors to Petruchio. Shows how a woman’s worth is reduced to her physical appearance (none of them have spoken to her before). Bianca is compared to a precious stone, reducing her to a pretty object to be owned and lauded as a status symbol
“He hath the jewel of my life in his hold, his youngest daughter, Bianca”
Petruchio, describing his desire to find a wealthy bride. Demonstrates how he only sees marriage as a means to an end and has no interest in romance. Comedic villain as he has not yet discovered the joys of marriage. The woman he marries is only a status symbol to him.
“I come to wife it wealthily in Padua. If wealthily then happily in Padua”
