Character guide

Katharina

major

Also known as Kate, Katharine, Katharina Minion, Katharina Well, Katharina Ay, Good Kate, sweet Katharine, bonny Kate, Katharina Minola, Katharine the curst, curst Katharine, Kate the curst, Katharina Mistress, Katharina Asses, the prettiest Kate in Christendom, Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate

The sharp-tongued 'shrew' who is courted and eventually tamed by Petruchio.

Petruchio

major

Also known as Enter Petruchio, Petruchio Signior Hortensio, signormio Petruchio, Petruchio Hortensio, Petruchio A, Petruchio Why, Petruchio O, Petruchio Who, Petruchio Signior Baptista, Petruchio Gentlemen, Petruchio Grumio, Petruchio Father, Petruchio Sir, Petruchio Katharina, Petruchio Prithee, Petruchio Villain, Petruchio Sirrah, Exeunt Petruchio, Brother Petruchio

A gentleman from Verona who marries Katharina and uses unconventional methods to 'tame' her.

Lucentio

major

Also known as Lucentio Tranio, Lucentio O Tranio, Lucentio Fiddler, Vincentio Lucentio, Signior Lucentio, Lucentio Sirrah, Lucentio Biondello, Lucentio Mistress, Lucentio Gramercies, Baptista Lucentio

A young man from Pisa who disguises himself as a tutor to woo Bianca.

Bianca

major

Also known as sweet Bianca, Bianca That, Bianca God, Bianca Sister, Bianca Cambio, Bianca Ay, Binaca

Katharina's younger sister, sought after by multiple suitors for her gentle demeanor.

Hortensio

supporting

Also known as Hortensio Sir, Signior Hortensio, Hortensio Sirrah, Plead Hortensio, Hortensio Signior Baptista, Hortensio Gremio, Hortensio Madam, Hortensio Grumio, Hortensio Petruchio

A suitor to Bianca who later marries a wealthy widow after being outmaneuvered.

Tranio

supporting

Also known as Lucentio Tranio, Enter Tranio, Tranio Softly, Tranio Ay, Tranio Faith, Tranio Gremio, Tranio Of all mad matches, Tranio Master, Tranio Sir, Tranio Patience, Tranio Mistress, Tranio Mi perdonato, Tranio Ay

Lucentio's clever servant who impersonates his master to facilitate the courtship of Bianca.

Gremio

supporting

Also known as Tranio Gremio, old Gremio, Signior Gremio, Enter Gremio, Old Signior Gremio, Gremio Good morrow, Gremio Hortensio, Gremio Tranio, Gremio Yea, Gremio Adieu, Gremio Youngling, Gremio Ay

An elderly and wealthy suitor to Bianca, easily outbid by the disguised Lucentio.

Baptista Minola

supporting

Also known as Petruchio Signior Baptista, Baptista, old Baptista, Signior Baptista, Signior Baptista Minola, Minola, Enter Baptista, Baptista Gentlemen, Baptista Padua, Exit Baptista, Baptista Ay, Baptista Why, Baptista Sir, Baptista Faith, Baptista Talk, Baptista Good morrow, Baptista Lucentio, Reenter Baptista, Baptista Neighbours

The father of Katharina and Bianca who insists Katharina must marry before Bianca.

Grumio

supporting

Also known as Nathaniel, Grumio Nathaniel, Grumio Ay, Grumio Katharine the curst, sirrah Grumio, good Grumio, Grumio Villain, Enter Grumio, Petruchio Grumio, Grumio Biondello, Nicholas Fellow Grumio, Hortensio Grumio, Grumio Master, Sirrah Grumio

Petruchio's long-suffering servant who bears the brunt of his master's eccentric behavior.

Biondello

supporting

Also known as Hortensio Sirrah Biondello, Enter Biondello, Sirrah Biondello, Vincentio Seeing Biondello, Biondello Master, Biondello Who, Biondello Why, Biondello Aside, Grumio Biondello, Lucentio Biondello, Biondello Cambio, Biondello O

Lucentio's second servant who assists in the schemes to win Bianca.

Vincentio

supporting

Also known as Vincentio Lucentio, old Vincentio, Vincentio, Vincentio Seeing Biondello, Pisa Vincentio, supposed Vincentio, Vincentio of Pisa, Sir Vincentio

Lucentio's father who travels to Padua and is initially mistaken for an impostor.

Pedant

minor

Also known as Pedant Ay, the Pedant

A schoolmaster from Mantua who is tricked into impersonating Vincentio.

Widow

minor

Also known as Widow Right, Widow Lord

A wealthy widow who marries Hortensio and participates in the final wager.

Curtis

minor

Also known as fellow Curtis, Curtis Away

Petruchio's servant who helps prepare the household for Katharina's arrival.

Nathaniel

minor

Also known as Nathaniel Peter

A servant in Petruchio's household.

Cambio

minor

Also known as good Cambio, Biondello Cambio, Bianca Cambio

The name Lucentio uses while disguised as Bianca's tutor.

Licio

minor

Also known as amorous Licio

The name Hortensio uses while disguised as a music tutor to Bianca.

Christopher Sly

minor

Also known as Sly, Christophero Sly, Sly Ay, Sly Marry

A drunken tinker who is tricked into believing he is a lord in the Induction.

Lord

minor

Also known as Lord Huntsman

A nobleman who plays a trick on the drunken Sly in the Induction.

Haberdasher

minor

Also known as Exit Haberdasher

A tradesman who brings a cap for Katharina.

Tailor

minor

A tailor who brings a gown for Katharina and is berated by Petruchio.

Priest

minor

Also known as the priest

The clergyman who marries Petruchio and Katharina.

Officer

minor

Also known as an officer, an Officer

A law officer who appears to arrest Vincentio.

Peter

minor

Also known as Nathaniel Peter, Peter Turph

A servant in Petruchio's household.

Philip

minor

A servant mentioned briefly in Petruchio's household.

Joseph

minor

A servant mentioned briefly in Petruchio's household.

Nicholas

minor

Also known as Nicholas Fellow Grumio

A servant in Petruchio's household.

Antonio

minor

A character briefly mentioned or appearing as a merchant.

Belman

minor

A servant or minor character mentioned in passing.