You are here

All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 1
Back to the Play
Falcon Training
Metaphor
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 169-177

An explanation of Petruchio’s metaphor of Katherina as a falcon in Act 4, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

Thus have I politicly begun my reign,    
And 'tis my hope to end successfully.    
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty,    
And till she stoop, she must not be full-gorged,    
For then she never looks upon her lure.
Another way I have to man my haggard,    
To make her come and know her keeper's call:
That is to watch her, as we watch these kites    
That bate and beat, and will not be obedient.    

Petruchio is comparing the training of Katherina to the training of a hunting falcon. Falcons are trained using a lure, a cloth bird resembling the species you want the falcon to catch, inside of which is some raw meat. Once trained, a hungry falcon will swoop down (stoop) on any bird resembling the lure.