Key Quotations (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Key Quotations

Act 1

"She is your treasure, she must have a husband."

• Baptista insists that Katherine must marry before Bianca can.
• This quote uses the metaphor to describe Katherine as a "treasure," emphasising her value within the context of marriage and social expectations.
• Key themes: Marriage, social expectations, value of women.

"I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; / If wealthily, then happily in Padua."

• Petruchio declares his intention to marry a wealthy woman.
• The repetition of "wealthily" and "happily" highlights Petruchio's pragmatic approach to marriage, associating financial gain with happiness.
• Key themes: Marriage, materialism, pragmatism.

"If I be waspish, best beware my sting."

• Katherine warns Petruchio of her sharp tongue.
• The metaphor of a wasp and its sting conveys Katherine's defensive and aggressive nature, setting the stage for her combative interactions.
• Key themes: Conflict, defence, character.

Act 2

"Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper."

• Katherine expresses the traditional view of a wife's duty to her husband.
• This quote uses a series of metaphors to reinforce the hierarchical nature of marriage, emphasising submission and obedience.
• Key themes: Gender roles, marriage, submission.

"I see a woman may be made a fool / If she had not a spirit to resist."

• Katherine reflects on the need for women to assert themselves.
• This quote uses a conditional clause to emphasise the importance of resistance and self-assertion in avoiding foolishness.
• Key themes: Independence, resistance, gender dynamics.

"You shall stay till I have done."

• Petruchio asserts his control over Katherine.
• The imperative mood of this quote reflects Petruchio's dominance and foreshadows his methods of taming Katherine.
• Key themes: Power, control, taming.

Act 3

"I'll have no bigger; this doth fit the time, / And gentlewomen wear such caps as these."

• Katherine complies with Petruchio's choice of cap.
• The quote highlights Katherine's growing compliance and the influence of societal norms on her behaviour.
• Key themes: Conformity, societal norms, change.

"My falcon now is sharp and passing empty."

• Petruchio compares taming Katherine to training a falcon.
• This metaphor underscores Petruchio's strategy of withholding food and sleep to tame Katherine, likening her to a bird of prey.
• Key themes: Taming, control, strategy.

"She ate no meat today, nor none shall eat; / Last night she slept not, nor tonight she shall not."

• Petruchio describes his methods of taming Katherine.
• The repetition of "nor" emphasises the deprivation Katherine endures, illustrating Petruchio's harsh tactics.
• Key themes: Deprivation, control, taming.

Act 4

"Thus have I politicly begun my reign."

• Petruchio reflects on his success in taming Katherine.
• The use of "reign" metaphorically positions Petruchio as a ruler, highlighting the power dynamics in their relationship.
• Key themes: Power, control, strategy.

"This is a way to kill a wife with kindness."

• Petruchio explains his method of taming Katherine through contradictory kindness.
• The oxymoron "kill with kindness" illustrates Petruchio's manipulative approach, using feigned kindness to achieve his goals.
• Key themes: Manipulation, control, paradox.

"The more my wrong, the more his spite appears."

• Katherine laments Petruchio's mistreatment.
• The parallel structure of "the more... the more" emphasises the escalating nature of Petruchio's spite and Katherine's suffering.
• Key themes: Suffering, conflict, power dynamics.

Act 5

"Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, / Thy head, thy sovereign."

• Katherine reiterates the traditional view of a wife's duty to her husband.
• The repetition of possessive pronouns and hierarchical terms underscores the patriarchal expectations of marriage.
• Key themes: Gender roles, marriage, submission.

"Place your hands below your husband's foot."

• Katherine instructs the other wives on their duties.
• This hyperbolic gesture symbolises ultimate submission and reflects the play's exploration of power and obedience.
• Key themes: Submission, obedience, gender dynamics.

"Why, there's a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate."

• Petruchio praises Katherine's obedience and affectionately commands her.
• The affectionate tone contrasts with earlier harshness, indicating a shift in their relationship dynamics.
• Key themes: Affection, power, transformation.

"He that is giddy thinks the world turns round."

• Petruchio philosophically reflects on perception and reality.
• This aphorism uses metaphor to suggest that one's internal state affects their perception of the world.
• Key themes: Perception, reality, philosophy. "Now, go thy ways, thou hast tamed a curst shrew."

• Hortensio acknowledges Petruchio's success in taming Katherine.
• The phrase "tamed a curst shrew" encapsulates the play's central conflict and resolution.
• Key themes: Taming, success, resolution. "We three are married, but you two are sped."

• Petruchio compares his successful marriage to those of the other men.
• The comparison underscores the play's exploration of different marital dynamics and the theme of competition.
• Key themes: Marriage, competition, success.

"Lucentio, when shall we wed?"

• Bianca expresses her eagerness to marry Lucentio.
• This quote highlights Bianca's contrasting character to Katherine, being more traditionally obedient and eager.
• Key themes: Marriage, eagerness, contrast.

"The more fool you for laying on my duty."

• Bianca challenges the notion of wifely duty.
• The direct address and use of "fool" suggest Bianca's awareness and subtle resistance to traditional expectations.
• Key themes: Resistance, duty, awareness.

"My cake is dough, but I'll in among the rest, / Out of hope of all, but my share of the feast."

• Gremio expresses his disappointment and acceptance of his fate.
• The metaphor "my cake is dough" signifies his failed efforts, while the juxtaposition with "share of the feast" indicates his resilience.
• Key themes: Disappointment, acceptance, resilience.