‘Shall I be appointed hours, as though, belike, / I knew not what to take and what to leave?’ (Katherina, 1:1)

Katherina is independent and does not want anyone to control her.

‘If I be waspish, best beware my sting’ (Katherina, 2:1)

Katherina is quick-witted and turns Petruchio’s words against him.

‘My mind hath been as big as one of yours, / My heart as great, my reason haply more, / To bandy word for word and frown for frown. / But now I see our lances are but straws…’ (Katherina, 5:2)

Katherina notes that whilst her passion and desire to be equal is great, that her fight against men will not win out.

She ‘began to scold and raise up such a storm / That mortal ears might hardly endure the din’ (Tranio, 1:1)

Katherina is very vocal and loud in her anger. In Tranio's eyes, the noise and scale of her aggression is superhuman.

'I think she’ll sooner prove a soldier; Iron may hold with her but never lutes’ (Hortensio, 2:1)

Katherina is violent and strong. Hortensio remarks that only iron shackles would be able to stand up to her.

'That being mad herself, she’s madly mated.’ (Bianca, 3:1

Katherina defies social norms, and Bianca feels that she has found an equal match in Petruchio.

‘You knew my father well, and in him me, / Left solely heir to all his lands and goods, / Which I have bettered rather than decreased.’ (Petruchio 2:1)

Petruchio is a rich man, who has not only inherited his father’s estate but worked hard to increase his wealth. He benefits from his father’s good reputation.

'I am as peremptory as she proud minded, / And where two raging fires meet together / They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.’ (Petruchio, 2:1)

Petruchio sees himself as an equal match for Katherina and that they balance each other.

'I have politically begun my reign, / And tis my hope to end successfully. / My falcon now is sharp and empty passing’ (Petruchio, 4:1)

Petruchio is dominant and sees his marriage with Katherina as a battle that he must tactically win. He uses the image of training a bird of prey to obey his commands by restricting its food.

'An she knew him as well as I do, she would know scolding would do little good upon him' (Grumio, 1:1)

Petruchio is unfazed by those who disagree with him. Grumio suggests that he and/or others have tried many times to address his master's behaviours and habits but has not succeeded.

'One half lunatic, / A madcap ruffian and a swearing Jack / That thinks with oaths to face the matter out’ (Katherina, 2:1)

To Katherina, Petruchio seems impulsive, reckless and uses offensive language to get his way.

'Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise; / Though he be merry, yet withal he’s honest.’ (Tranio, 3:2)

Tranio believes there is more to Petruchio than meets the eye. He thinks Petruchio has a plan behind his mad behaviour and that there is a logic to his actions which will contribute to his ‘taming’ of Katherina.

‘My books and instruments shall be my company’ (Bianca, 1:1)

Bianca says she is interested in learning and conscientious in her studies.

'So well I know my duty to my elders’ (Bianca, 2:1)

Bianca says she knows her place within the hierarchy of this society, although her attitude towards her older sister is questionable.

‘I am no breeching scholar in the schools: / I’ll not be tied to hours nor pointed times / But learn my lessons I please myself’ (Bianca, 3:1)

Bianca does not want to be bossed around or controlled by her teachers. She wants to learn on her own terms.

‘In the other’s silence I do see / Maids' mild behaviour and sobriety’ (Lucentio, 1:1)

Bianca is seems quiet in comparison to her sister Katherina. She is admired for her meek and serious nature.

'She’s apt to learn and thankful for good turns’ (Baptista, 2:1)

Bianca’s father believes that she studies hard and is grateful for the tuition her teachers give her.

‘A pretty peat. It is best to put finger in the eye, an she knew why.’ (Katherina, 1:1)

Bianca is protected and favoured by Baptista. Katherina mocks her for being an obedient ‘pet’ and suggests Bianca can be emotionally manipulative by being able to cry at will.

'By my father’s love and leave am armed / With his good will and thy good company’ (Lucentio, 1:1)

Lucentio has been supported by his father Vincentio to continue his studies as the famous university in Padua. He feels confident in his father’s love.

'Virtue and that part of philosophy / Will I apply that treats of happiness / By virtue specially to be achieved.’ (Lucentio, 1:1)

Lucentio has noble aims to study hard and devote himself to a good, studious life.

‘I’ll have no halves; I’ll bear it all myself.’ (Lucentio, 5:5)

Lucentio is confident in Bianca’s love and obedience to him. He is so sure that he refuses Baptista’s offer to split the wager in the bet.

'I am content to be Lucentio, / Because so well I love Lucentio’ (Tranio, 1:1)

Lucentio is well-loved by Tranio, not just as a servant but as a friend.

'I know you not; hic est Sigiea tells, I trust you not’ (Bianca, 3:1)

Lucentio is cunning in his disguise and infiltration of Baptista’s house in order to get close to Bianca. She is wary of him at first.

'While I play the good husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university’. (Vincentio, 5:1)

Vincentio is concerned that Lucentio is not financially responsible.

‘Let’s be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray.’ (Tranio, 1:1)

Tranio prioritises fun. He encourages Lucentio to enjoy himself alongside his studying.

'I have faced it with a card of ten.’ (Tranio, 2:1)

Tranio is a cunning trickster. He manages to fool Baptista and Gremio and win Bianca’s hand in marriage for Lucentio.

'Lucentio slipped me like his greyhound, Which runs himself and catches for his master.’ (Tranio, 5:2)

Tranio is a loyal and faithful friend to Lucentio. He compares himself to a hunting dog which tracks and catches prey for his master, not for himself.

‘My trusty servant, well approved in all.’ (Lucentio, 1:1)

Tranio has proven himself to be reliable to Lucentio. He is well respected and treated with a friendship that goes beyond a usual servant-master relationship.

‘I’ll slit the villain’s nose that would have sent me to the jail.’ (Vincentio, 5:1)

Tranio is willing to take his trickery to extremes in order to ensure Lucentio’s success in marrying Bianca.

'I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio.’ (Lucentio, 5:2)

Tranio is quick witted, clever and sharp. He pokes fun at those who are of a higher social class than him.

‘For to cunning men / I will be kind, and liberal / To mine own children in good bringing up’ (Baptista 1:1)

Baptista respects and values education. He thinks it an important part of his daughters’ upbringing.

'Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I?’ (Baptista, 2:1)

Baptista feels self pity about his disobedient and wilful daughter Katherina.

‘Not in my house, Lucentio, for you know / Pitchers have ears, and I have many servants’ (Baptista, 4:4)

Baptista is cautious and suspicious. He does not trust his household to keep secret the agreement of marriage between Lucentio and Bianca.

‘Her father is Baptista Minola, / An affable and courteous gentleman’ (Hortensio, 1:2)

Baptista is well liked in Padua for his friendly and pleasant manner.

'You have showed a tender fatherly regard / To wish me wed to one half lunatic’ (Katherina, 2:1)

Baptista has different attitudes to both of his daughters. Katherina feels that he does not treat her in a caring, dutiful way.

'The narrow prying father Minola’ (Tranio, 3:2)

Baptista is overly protective of his daughter Bianca and keeps a close eye on her.

'Were my state far worser than it is, / I would not wed her for a mine of gold.’ (Hortensio, 1:2)

Hortensio has money and a good estate, though he is not as wealthy as Gremio. He says that no amount of riches would persuade him to marry Katherina.

'Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks / Shall win my love’ (Hortensio, 4:2)

Hortensio seeks a loving, kind relationship with his wife. When he sees that Bianca is more interested in ‘Cambio’, he decides to instead marry a wealthy widow.

‘Have to my widow, and if she be froward, / Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward.’ (Hortensio, 5:1)

Hortensio admires the way Petruchio has ‘tamed’ Katherina. He takes this as inspiration for dealing with future problems in his relationship.

'I know you well and love you well.’ (Baptista, 1:1)

Hortensio is good friends with Baptista. They are of a similar social class and have known each other for a long time.

'My best-beloved and approved friend.’ (Petruchio, 1:2)

Hortensio has proved himself a reliable friend to Petruchio. Despite living in different towns, they maintain a strong friendship.

'Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.' (Petruchio, 5:2)

Hortensio wants to please his wife, rather than have her serve him. Petruchio suggests that this is because he is afraid of her.

‘I am your neighbour and was suitor first.’ (Gremio, 2:1)

Gremio is good friends with Baptista and feels he has a strong case for his marriage proposal. He is local to the area and has loved Bianca for a long time.

'My house within the city / Is richly furnished with plate and gold.’ (Gremio, 2:1)

Gremio is very rich and, although he is old, he promises Bianca a good fortune if he dies.

'My cake is dough, but I’ll in among the rest.' (Gremio, 5:1)

Gremio is affable. Although he is disappointed that his pursuit of Bianca has failed, he is happy to celebrate the marriage at the feast.

‘Belike you fancy riches more: You will have Gremio to keep you fair’ (Katherina, 2:1)

Gremio is wealthier than Hortensio. He has a good house and could offer Bianca a wealthy and comfortable life.

'Greybeard, thy love doth freeze.’ (Tranio, 2:1)

Gremio is old and has greying hair. Train implies that he is too old for Bianca to be interested in as a husband.

'The old pantaloon.’ (Lucentio, 3:1)

Gremio is a comic figure.

'If this be not lawful cause for me to leave his service.’ (Grumio, 1:2)

Grumio is long-suffering. He complains that he is badly, and madly, treated by his master.

‘Now were I not a little pot and soon hot…’ (Grumio, 4:1)

Grumio is small. He says that one benefit of a small frame is that, when it is cold, he is quickly warm again.

‘How he beat me because her horse stumbled’ (Grumio, 4:1)

Grumio is physically beaten by Petruchio for disobedience. We both see this onstage and hear about it.

'Your ancient, trusty, pleasant servant Grumio.' (Hortensio, 1:2)

Grumio has served Petruchio well for a long time. He is well known to Petruchio’s old friend Hortensio who defends him against Petruchio’s anger.

‘A senseless villain.’ (Petruchio, 1:2)

Grumio is either not very clever. or quite cheeky. He takes things very literally, sometimes becoming confused or disobeying his master.

'You are so full of cony-catching.’ (Curtis, 2:1)

Grumio is a joker and a trickster. He is teased by another servant because he will not answer questions directly.