THE TAMING OF THE SHREW - ACT 5 WEEK 9

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW by William Shakespeare

Alright everyone! Drumroll time! It's time for our last post on The Taming of the Shrew!

We start with the secret marriage of Bianca and the real Lucentio. The deed is done, and now all that's left is to come clean from all the deception that has been committed.

I hope you found the start of the next part humorous before cringing. The part where the real Vincentio meets the fake Vincentio at the door of Lucentio's home. Can you just imagine the dumbfounded look on the real Vincentio's face as an imposter claims to be him? Then, Biondello, Lucentio's servant that Vincentio knows, says he's never seen him before. Next, Tranio comes on the scene dressed in finery like a Lord, and Vincentio thinks maybe he has completely gone mad or worse yet, maybe the servants have killed his son. He flips out and they call an officer to haul him off to jail. Just as he is about to be carried away, Lucentio appears on the scene and begs his father's forgiveness. The truth comes out. Baptista is upset that Lucentio married his daughter without his permission, but he is guaranteed that all will be set right.

Petruchio and Kate witness the whole ordeal and Kate begs to follow the group to see how everything will end up. First, Petruchio demands a kiss in public. Kate is embarrassed and questions the act. Petruchio threatens to take her home unless she kisses him. Thoughts on Petruchio? Hold them, because we aren't done yet!

We now have three married couples: Petruchio and Kate, Lucentio and Bianca, and Hortensio and his widow. The three men are gathered together and Petruchio is teased about being married to Kate. They're basically telling him who they think wears the pants in his relationship. Petruchio offers up a bet. One hundred crowns to the man whose wife comes when she is summoned by Biondello. Lucentio sends him to get Bianca first. Biondello comes back with her response that she is busy and can't come. Next Hortensio sends Biondello to bring the Widow. He comes back with her response. Hortensio can come to her. Next is Petruchio's turn. Guess who comes without a word? Katherine. Baptista, her father, can't believe it. He offers 20,000 crowns for this show, but Petruchio tells them all they haven't seen anything yet. He tells Katherine to take her hat off and trample it, and she does! The Widow and Bianca complain about Kate's behavior to which Petruchio commands her to speak to them about their wifely duties. Kate happily launches into a long, lecturing speech about how these women should look at their husbands. Lucentio, Hortensio, and Vincentio congratulate Petruchio and you have to know they are looking at Petruchio with just a bit of jealousy as they go their separate ways.

SO who of us still loves Petruchio? Who thinks he didn't know what he was getting into? Who thinks Katherine didn't know what she was getting into? Who speculates she will live in a state of abuse for the rest of her life? Definitely some interesting things to consider as we wrap up this classic book.