Plot Summary

Act I

Scene 1

• Lucentio arrives in Padua to study and falls in love with Bianca, the younger daughter of Baptista.
• Baptista declares that Bianca cannot marry until her older sister, Katherina, is wed.
• Gremio and Hortensio, Bianca's suitors, plot to find a husband for Katherina.
• Lucentio disguises himself as a tutor, Cambio, to get closer to Bianca.

Scene 2

• Petruchio arrives in Padua, seeking a wealthy wife.
• Hortensio suggests Katherina as a match, and Petruchio decides to court her.
• Petruchio plans to win Katherina's dowry and tame her fiery temperament.

Act II

Scene 1

• Katherina and Bianca quarrel, displaying Katherina's shrewish behaviour.
• Petruchio meets Katherina and engages in a battle of wits.
• Petruchio declares he will marry Katherina, despite her objections.
• Baptista agrees to the marriage, and the wedding is set.

Act III

Scene 1

• Lucentio, disguised as Cambio, tutors Bianca and declares his love for her.
• Hortensio, also disguised as a tutor, is less successful in wooing Bianca.

Scene 2

• Petruchio arrives late to his wedding, dressed absurdly, causing a scandal.
• Katherina is humiliated but goes through with the marriage.
• Petruchio asserts his control by leaving the wedding feast early and taking Katherina to his country home.

Act IV

Scene 1

• At Petruchio's home, he begins his taming process by denying Katherina food and sleep, claiming nothing is good enough for her.
• Petruchio uses reverse psychology and insists everything he does is out of love.

Scene 2

• Lucentio (as Cambio) and Bianca grow closer.
• Hortensio, realizing Bianca prefers Lucentio, gives up his pursuit and marries a wealthy widow.

Scene 3

• Katherina begs for food, but Petruchio continues to manipulate her by offering and then withholding it.
• Petruchio insists on controlling even the most trivial aspects of Katherina's life.

Scene 4

• The real Lucentio's father, Vincentio, arrives in Padua, leading to a series of mistaken identities.
• Lucentio reveals his true identity and plans to marry Bianca.

Scene 5

• Petruchio and Katherina encounter Vincentio on their way back to Padua.
• Petruchio continues his taming tactics, and Katherina begins to acquiesce to his demands.

Act V

Scene 1

• Lucentio and Bianca are married in secret.
• Vincentio confronts the fake Vincentio (a Pedant) and Lucentio, but all is eventually revealed and forgiven.
• Baptista, Vincentio, and others go to celebrate the marriages of Bianca and Lucentio, and Katherina and Petruchio.

Scene 2

• At the wedding feast, the men wager on which wife is the most obedient.
• Katherina proves her transformation by being the only wife to respond to her husband's call.
• Katherina delivers a speech on wifely duty and obedience, demonstrating her submission to Petruchio.
• The play ends with a sense of harmony restored but with lingering questions about the nature of Katherina's transformation and the dynamics of their marriage.