The Taming of the Shrew · Chapter
Scene I explained
At Petruchio's country house, Grumio arrives ahead of his master and new mistress, complaining of the cold and the journey.
What happens
At Petruchio's country house, Grumio arrives ahead of his master and new mistress, complaining of the cold and the journey. He and Curtis exchange banter about the state of the household and the events on the road. Petruchio and Katharina arrive, and Petruchio immediately begins his taming regimen: he berates his servants, rejects the supper as burnt, and denies Katharina food and rest, all under the guise of kindness. The servants observe that Petruchio is 'killing her in her own humour,' and Petruchio soliloquizes on his plan to tame Katharina like a falcon, using deprivation and disruption to break her will.
Themes in this chapter
Taming and Obedience
Petruchio explicitly compares Katharina to a falcon, using hunger and sleeplessness to 'tame' her, framing his cruelty as a method of training.
Gender Roles and Power Dynamics
Petruchio asserts absolute authority over Katharina, controlling her access to food and rest, while the servants comment on his dominance.
Performance and Theatricality
Petruchio's outbursts and feigned care are a calculated performance designed to manipulate Katharina's behavior.
Characters to notice
- Petruchio
Arrives at his country house and immediately begins his taming regimen, denying Katharina food and sleep while feigning care.
- Katharina
Arrives exhausted and hungry; she tries to placate Petruchio but is subjected to his taming tactics.
- Grumio
Sent ahead to prepare the house; he recounts the journey and engages in comic banter with Curtis.
- Curtis
A servant at Petruchio's house; he questions Grumio about the new mistress and helps prepare for the couple's arrival.
- Nathaniel
One of the serving-men; he greets Grumio and reports that all is ready for Petruchio.
Key passages
“Thus have I politicly begun my reign, And ’tis my hope to end successfully. My falcon now is sharp and passing empty; And till she stoop she must not be full-gorged, For then she never looks upon her lure.”
I have cleverly started my rule, and I hope to succeed. My falcon (Katharina) is hungry and eager; she must not be fed until she obeys, or she will never respond to my call.
Petruchio uses falconry imagery to justify his taming strategy.
“This is a way to kill a wife with kindness; And thus I’ll curb her mad and headstrong humour.”
This is how to destroy a wife by pretending to be kind; this is how I will control her wild and stubborn temper.
Petruchio ironically describes his harsh treatment as 'kindness.'
“He kills her in her own humour.”
He defeats her using her own temperament against her.
The servants observe that Petruchio's method exploits Katharina's own nature.