The Induction & Framing Device
What is the main purpose of the Induction in the play?
To frame the story as a performance and question reality vs. illusion
Why does Baptista refuse Bianca’s suitors at the start of the play?
Because Katherine must marry first
Why does Petruchio praise Katherine while she insults him?
To control the narrative and destabilize her
Why does Petruchio dress inappropriately for the wedding?
To assert dominance and embarrass Katherine
Identify one major theme present in Acts I–III.
Power, gender roles, marriage, control, performance
How does Christopher Sly’s transformation comment on social class?
It suggests class identity is performative, not inherent
How is marriage treated as an economic transaction in Act I?
Dowries and status outweigh affection
How does wordplay function as a power struggle in Act II?
Language replaces physical dominance
How is the wedding scene more about power than marriage?
Katherine’s feelings are disregarded
Why is it difficult to label this play as a simple comedy today?
Its humor relies on gendered control
Why might Shakespeare begin a comedy with deception rather than romance?
To prepare the audience for manipulation and role-playing
How does Petruchio’s view of marriage differ from Lucentio’s?
Petruchio values profit/control; Lucentio claims love
How does Petruchio’s public description of Katherine contrast with reality?
It erases her voice and autonomy
Why does Petruchio insist the wedding is valid despite his behavior?
He controls the outcome regardless of social norms
How might a feminist reading interpret Katherine’s anger?
As resistance to oppression
How does the Induction shape how the audience views Katherine’s treatment later?
It normalizes control and manipulation as “entertainment”
What does Katherine’s resistance reveal about her position in Padua?
She lacks power and is punished for defying gender norms
How does Petruchio’s refusal to acknowledge Katherine’s insults shift the power dynamic in their exchange?
By denying her emotional impact, he controls the interaction and redefines meaning.
How does public humiliation function as a “taming” strategy?
It isolates Katherine and removes support
How does societal pressure contribute to Katherine’s behavior?
She is punished for nonconformity
How does the Induction encourage the audience to question whether identity is something you are or something you perform throughout the play?
It shows identity can be constructed through behavior, language, and social reinforcement rather than birth or truth.
What does Act I suggest about women’s choices in marriage?
They are limited or ignored
In what way does Petruchio’s use of exaggerated praise function as a form of verbal gaslighting?
It contradicts Katherine’s lived experience and attempts to reshape reality through language.
In what ways is Petruchio “performing” masculinity in Act III?
Excessive dominance, chaos, and authority
How might a modern audience interpret Katherine’s resistance as a response to systemic power rather than a personal flaw?
Her behavior reflects survival and protest within restrictive gender roles.