You are here

All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 2
Back to the Play
Padua and Venice
Cultural Context
Act 4,
Scene 2
Lines 77a-87

An explanation of the relationship between Padua and Venice in Act 4, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Tranio-as-Lucentio

What countryman, I pray?    

Merchant

                                             Of Mantua.

Tranio-as-Lucentio

Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!
And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Merchant

My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard.    

Tranio-as-Lucentio

'Tis death for any one in Mantua    
To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?
Your ships are stayed at Venice, and the Duke,    
For private quarrel 'twixt your Duke and him,    
Hath published and proclaimed it openly.
'Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,    
You might have heard it else proclaimed about.    

Padua is just outside of Venice and therefore part of the Duke of Venice’s realm.