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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 3Scene 2
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“she's madly mated ... Petruchio is Kated”
Wordplay
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 204-242

An explanation of the wordplay on “mated” and “Kated” in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Grumio (Petruchio’s servant)

Ay, sir, they be ready. The oats have eaten the horses.

Katherina

Nay, then, do what thou canst, I will not go today,
No, nor tomorrow, not till I please myself.
The door is open, sir, there lies your way;
You may be jogging whiles your boots are green.    
For me, I'll not be gone till I please myself.
'Tis like you'll prove a jolly, surly groom,    
That take it on you at the first so roundly.    

Petruchio

O Kate, content thee; prithee, be not angry.

Katherina

I will be angry. What hast thou to do?    
Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure.    

Gremio (elderly suitor)

Ay, marry, sir, now it begins to work!    

Katherina

Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner.
I see a woman may be made a fool
If she had not a spirit to resist.    

Petruchio

They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.
Obey the bride, you that attend on her.
Go to the feast, revel and domineer,    
Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,    
Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves;
But, for my bonny Kate, she must with me.    
Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret;    
I will be master of what is mine own.
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,    
My household stuff, my field, my barn,
My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing;
And here she stands, touch her whoever dare.
I'll bring mine action on the proudest he    
That stops my way in Padua. Grumio,    
Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves;
Rescue thy mistress if thou be a man.
Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate.
I'll buckler thee against a million.    
[Exit Petruchio, Katherina, and Grumio]

Baptista

Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones.

Gremio (elderly suitor)

Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing.    

Tranio-as-Lucentio

Of all mad matches, never was the like.

Lucentio-as-Cambio

Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister?

Bianca

That being mad herself, she's madly mated.    

Gremio

I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.    

Gremio cleverly equates being “madly mated” to being “Kated” — that is, being married to an outrageous person.