Taming of the Shrew: Character Profiles

Katherina: Known as the ‘shrew’ of the play, she is initially seen as quick-tempered and sharp-tongued, before undergoing a transformation into a dutiful and obedient wife due to Petruchio’s ‘taming’ methods.
Bianca: Katherina’s younger sister, she is painted as the complete opposite of Katherina, being sweet, docile, and the subject of many men’s desires, including Lucentio and Hortensio.
Baptista: The father of Katherina and Bianca, Baptista navigates through the various suitors of his daughters, favouring wealth and status over genuine love when deciding the one to marry.
Petruchio: The central male character who marries Katherina and undertakes the task of ‘taming’ her to be an obedient wife using psychological techniques that can be viewed as cruel and manipulative.
Gremio: An old and wealthier suitor of Bianca who is outmanoeuvred by the younger and more cunning Lucentio.
Lucentio: A wealthy young man from Pisa who disguises himself as a tutor to woo Bianca, eventually marrying her.
Hortensio: A suitor of Bianca who disguises himself as a teacher of music, he ends up instead marrying a widow.
Grumio: Petruchio’s comically misunderstanding servant, who provides much of the play’s humour.
Tranio: Lucentio’s clever and resourceful servant, who plays a key role in helping his master to win Bianca’s hand.
Biondello: Another of Lucentio’s servants, he assists in the various deceptions and disguises that take place in the play.
Vincentio: Lucentio’s father who, when appearing in Padua, causes confusion and eventual resolution to the various deceits in the play.
Minor Characters: The minor characters, such as the Widow or the Pedant, contribute to the play’s comedic value and complicate the story with their involvement in various subplots and disguises.