# Scene II explained — The Taming of the Shrew

> Chapter companion for The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

On the day of the wedding, Petruchio arrives late and ridiculously dressed, marries Katharina in a chaotic ceremony, and then insists on leaving immediately with her despite everyone's protests, declaring her his property.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage as Economic Transaction

Baptista's concern over the wedding arrangements and Petruchio's declaration of Katharina as his goods highlight marriage as a property arrangement.

### Taming and Obedience

Petruchio's forceful removal of Katharina and his claim to be 'master of what is mine own' initiate the taming process.

### Performance and Theatricality

Petruchio's outrageous attire and chaotic wedding behavior are a deliberate performance to assert control and shock society.

## Character check-ins

### Katharina

Weeps at Petruchio's delay, resists his attempt to leave after the wedding, but is forced to go with him.

### Petruchio

Arrives late and shabbily dressed, marries Katharina wildly, and asserts his mastery by taking her away.

### Baptista Minola

Anxious about Petruchio's absence, welcomes him despite his attire, and later arranges for Lucentio to take the bridegroom's place at the feast.

### Tranio

Defends Petruchio's intentions, observes the wedding chaos, and plots with Lucentio to secure Bianca.

### Gremio

Reports the outrageous events at the church, calling Petruchio a devil.

### Lucentio

Discusses with Tranio the plan to marry Bianca secretly, and is assigned to replace Petruchio at the wedding feast.

## Key lines

> No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced / To give my hand opposed against my heart / Unto a mad-brain rudesby full of spleen;

The only shame is mine: I am forced to marry a crazy, ill-tempered brute against my will.

_Katharina expresses her resentment at being compelled to marry Petruchio._

> 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;

She is my property, my belongings—my house, furniture, land, barn, horse, ox, donkey, anything I own.

_Petruchio asserts his legal ownership over Katharina after marriage._

> Such a mad marriage never was before:

There has never been a wedding as crazy as this one.

_Gremio describes the chaotic and unconventional ceremony._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters