Resumo de Taming Of The Shrew - William Shakespeare

Taming of the Shrew is a comedy about marriage.

Act I
Lucentio arrives in Pauda with his servant Tranio. He sees and falls in love with the beautiful Bianca. Bianca's father, Baptista, tells Lucentio that he has two daughters. Bianca, the fair and beautiful one, and Katherine, the bad-tempered one. As Katherine is the older daughter, she has to be married before Bianca can get married. Lucentio finds he has rivals for Bianca's affections in Hortensio and Gremio. Hortensio's friend Petruchio agrees to marry Katherine so that Hortensio and Lucentio can woo Bianca. Hortensio disguises as a music teacher and Lucentio disguises as a teacher of books to woo Bianca.

Act II
Petruchio meets Katherine. He calls her Kate and declares his love for her. Katherine verbally abuses him and hits him, behaving like a shrew. Petruchio ignores the abuse and informs Kate that he will marry her. Petruchio tells Baptista that Kate has agreed to marry him. Baptista is surprised and happy. Kate is shocked speechless. Petruchio and Kate are to be married the following Sunday. Baptista then announces that whoever has the greatest wealth can marry Bianca. Lucentio claims to have greater wealth than Gremio and Baptista demands proof of his wealth before he can marry Bianca.

Act III
It is the wedding day and Petruchio is late. Kate worries that she will not be married and Petruchio has made a fool of her. Petruchio finally arrives on an old horse, dressed in rags. After the marriage, Petruchio announces that Kate belongs to him and he can do what he pleases with her. He takes her and leaves before the wedding party is over.

Act IV
Petruchio embarks on his scheme to tame Kate. He abuses the servants, complaining about the poor quality of the food and the poorly made bed. Kate is not allowed to eat as the food is not good enough for her. She is deprived of sleep as the bed is not fit for her to sleep in. Poor Kate is hungry and weary while Petruchio behaves like a mad man, scolding the servants while declaring his love for Kate.
Meanwhile Lucentio and Hortensio court Bianca. Bianca falls for Lucentio and Hortensio gives up, marrying a widow who has always had an eye on him.
The taming of Kate continues. Petruchio decides to visit Baptista with Kate. He orders a beautiful dress for Kate but when it arrives he throws a tantrum, saying the dress is not good enough for Kate. On the way to Baptista's house, Petruchio insists that the sun is the moon and will not go on if Kate insists otherwise. They meet an old man on the road and Petruchio insists he is a fair lady. Kate is learning her lesson and greets the old man as fair lady to please Petruchio.

Act V
Lucentio's father, Vincentio, arrives in Padua. He confirms that Baptista will receive a large dowry for Bianca and Lucentio and Bianca are married. Petruchio and Kate have reached Padua. Petruchio insists Kate kisses him otherwise they will return home and not visit Baptista. Kate obeys and kisses Petruchio. In the final scene, Lucentio, Hortensio and Petruchio are all together with their wives. Petruchio proposes a test to see whose wife is most obedient. Everybody expects Petruchio to lose. Lucentio goes first. He sends a message to his wife Bianca to come to him and receives a message that she is busy and will not come. Hortensio does the same and receives the same message. Petruchio is next. Kate arrives immediately. Petruchio asks Kate to call the other wives and tell them the importance of obeying their husbands. She does so. Petruchio then asks Kate to kiss him and again she obeys. Petruchio has tamed the shrew.

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