" 1. Signor Hortensio, 'twixt such friends as we
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruccio's wife-
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance-
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe or a worse,
She moves me not-or not removes at least
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
(I.ii.62-73)
Petruccio speaks these lines to Hortensio to explain his intention of finding a bride in Padua. He frankly states that his main goal is to marry for money, equating wedding with wealthy results-that is, marrying a rich wife-with …show more content…
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Petruccio: My remedy is then to pluck it out.
Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies.
Petruccio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail. Katherine: In his tongue.
Petruccio: Whose tongue?
Katherine: Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
Petruccio: What, with my tongue in your tail?
(II.i.207-214)
This exchange between the two main characters occurs during their first meeting. Their conversation is an extraordinary display of verbal wit, with Petruccio making use of lurid sexual puns in order to undermine Katherine's standoffishness and anger. Other characters frequently compare Katherine to a dangerous wild animal, and in this case, Petruccio calls her a wasp. She replies angrily that if she is a wasp, he had better beware her sting. He replies confidently that he will simply pluck her sting out, rendering her unable to harm him. In saying this, Petruccio basically throws down a challenge to Katherine, acknowledging his intent to tame her. Katherine, disgusted, says that
Petruccio is too much of a fool even to know where a wasp's sting …show more content…
When Petruccio asks "Whose tongue?"
Katherine replies, "Yours, if you talk of tales," implying that if he continues to pursue her, she will sting him on his tongue, painfully.
But Petruccio again turns this into a sexual image, pretending to be surprised at the picture of "my tongue in your tail." This passage embodies not only the fiery conflict between Petruccio and Katherine, but also the sexual attraction underlying it. It also extends the play's ruling motif of domestication, as Petruccio yet again describes
Katherine as a wild animal that he will tame.
"Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry 'greed on,
And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty-
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well-
Thou must be married to no man but me,
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates.
Here comes your father. Never make denial.
I must and will have Katherine to my wife.
(II.i.261-272)
Petruccio speaks these lines to Katherine shortly after his "my
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
One rich enough to be Petruccio's wife-
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance-
Be she as foul as was Florentius' love,
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
As Socrates' Xanthippe or a worse,
She moves me not-or not removes at least
Affection's edge in me, were she as rough
As are the swelling Adriatic seas.
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
(I.ii.62-73)
Petruccio speaks these lines to Hortensio to explain his intention of finding a bride in Padua. He frankly states that his main goal is to marry for money, equating wedding with wealthy results-that is, marrying a rich wife-with …show more content…
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Petruccio: My remedy is then to pluck it out.
Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies.
Petruccio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail. Katherine: In his tongue.
Petruccio: Whose tongue?
Katherine: Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
Petruccio: What, with my tongue in your tail?
(II.i.207-214)
This exchange between the two main characters occurs during their first meeting. Their conversation is an extraordinary display of verbal wit, with Petruccio making use of lurid sexual puns in order to undermine Katherine's standoffishness and anger. Other characters frequently compare Katherine to a dangerous wild animal, and in this case, Petruccio calls her a wasp. She replies angrily that if she is a wasp, he had better beware her sting. He replies confidently that he will simply pluck her sting out, rendering her unable to harm him. In saying this, Petruccio basically throws down a challenge to Katherine, acknowledging his intent to tame her. Katherine, disgusted, says that
Petruccio is too much of a fool even to know where a wasp's sting …show more content…
When Petruccio asks "Whose tongue?"
Katherine replies, "Yours, if you talk of tales," implying that if he continues to pursue her, she will sting him on his tongue, painfully.
But Petruccio again turns this into a sexual image, pretending to be surprised at the picture of "my tongue in your tail." This passage embodies not only the fiery conflict between Petruccio and Katherine, but also the sexual attraction underlying it. It also extends the play's ruling motif of domestication, as Petruccio yet again describes
Katherine as a wild animal that he will tame.
"Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry 'greed on,
And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For by this light, whereby I see thy beauty-
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well-
Thou must be married to no man but me,
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates.
Here comes your father. Never make denial.
I must and will have Katherine to my wife.
(II.i.261-272)
Petruccio speaks these lines to Katherine shortly after his "my