In Act One, Scene One, a young rich man named Lucentio arrives in Padua with his servant, Tranio, to study at the great universities there. Lucentio is very enthusiastic about learning but Tranio reminds him not to lose touch with his emotions, feelings and desires. Tranio is obviously more than just a servant, he is a genuine friend to Lucentio. Lucentio and Tranio happen to overhear a quarrel and see that a rich man, Baptista, refuses to marry away his youngest daughter, Bianca, to the two suitors, Hortensio and Gremio, until her eldest daughter, Katherine, is married. Katherine is very ill tempered and poorly mannered and no one seems to want to marry her. Katherine is the shrew in Taming of the Shrew. Lucentio immediately falls in love with Bianca without even meeting her.
Lucentio decides to switch dress with Tranio and pretend to be a school teacher so he can “woo” Bianca while he educates her in music and philosophy. Tranio will have to pretend to be Lucentio.
A man named Petrucio arrives in Padua with his servant Grumio, not to be confused with Gremio, to visit his friend Hortensio. Apon arrival, Hertensio becomes aware that Petrucio wishes to marry into a rich dowry, despite the wife, causing Hertensio to want to use him to remove Kathrine from the picture.
No comments:
Post a Comment