The Taming of the Shrew Marriage Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Norton edition.

Quote #4

KATHERINE, to Baptista
I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a stale of me amongst these mates? (1.1.57-58)

This speech earns Kate a lot of criticism from the men in the play but Kate makes a good point about her father – Baptista does treat her like a "stale" (prostitute, laughing stock) when he offers to let Bianca's suitors have a run at Katherine.

Quote #5

GRUMIO
Nay, 'tis no matter, sir, what he 'leges in
Latin. (1.2.30-31)

When Grumio (who is supposed to be an Italian character like the rest of the cast) thinks that Hortensio and Petruchio have greeting each other in Latin (they actually spoke in Italian), he reveals his lack of formal education. Makes sense, he's a servant, not an upper-middle-class character. This little joke is also directed at Shakespeare's audience, many of whom also didn't know the difference between Latin and Italian.

Quote #6

KATHERINE
Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee tell
Whom thou lov'st best. See thou dissemble not. (2.1.8-9)

Contrary to what Kate says earlier in the play, it's not entirely clear that she is uninterested in matrimony. Kate's interest in Bianca's suitors and her reaction when Bianca refuses to share details suggests that Katherine really does want to get married.