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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 5Scene 2
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“Roundly replied”
Double Meaning
Act 5,
Scene 2
Lines 18-21a

An explanation of Petruchio’s reply to the Widow in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense;    
I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.

Widow

He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.    

Petruchio

Roundly replied.

Katherina

Widow

Petruchio

Hortensio

Petruchio

Katherina

Widow

Katherina

Widow

Katherina

Petruchio

Hortensio

Petruchio

Hortensio

Petruchio

[He drinks to Hortensio]

Baptista

Gremio

Bianca

Vincentio

Bianca

Petruchio

Bianca

[Exit Bianca, Katherina, and Widow]

Petruchio

Tranio

Petruchio

Tranio

Baptista

Lucentio

Hortensio

Petruchio

Baptista

Petruchio

Hortensio

Lucentio

Petruchio

Lucentio

Hortensio

Petruchio

Hortensio

Lucentio

Biondello

[Exit]

Baptista

Lucentio

[Re-enter Biondello]

Biondello

Petruchio

Gremio

Petruchio

Hortensio

[Exit Biondello]

Petruchio

Hortensio

[Re-enter Biondello]

Biondello

Petruchio

[Exit Grumio]

Hortensio

Petruchio

Hortensio

Petruchio

[Enter Katherina]

Baptista

Katherina

Petruchio

Katherina

Petruchio

[Exit Katherina]

Lucentio

Hortensio

Petruchio

Baptista

Petruchio

[Enter Katherina, Bianca, and Widow]
[She complies]

Widow

Bianca

Lucentio

Bianca

Petruchio

Widow

Petruchio

Widow

Petruchio

Katherina

Petruchio

Lucentio

Vincentio

Lucentio

Petruchio

[To others]
[To Lucentio]
[Exit Petruchio and Katherina]

Hortensio

Lucentio

[Exit]

Petruchio plays on “round” in the widow’s proverb with a double meaning:

  1. Well said!
  2. But a roundabout way of putting it.