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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 1Scene 2
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“Here's no knavery”
Irony
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 127-135

An explanation of the irony in the phrase “Here’s no knavery” in Act 1, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Grumio

A title for a maid, of all titles the worst.

Hortensio

Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace,    
And offer me disguised in sober robes
To old Baptista as a schoolmaster,
Well seen in music to instruct Bianca,    
That so I may by this device at least    
Have leave and leisure to make love to her,    
And, unsuspected, court her by herself.

Grumio

Here's no knavery. See, to beguile the old folks, how     

After hearing of Petruchio’s plan to marry Katherina for money and Hortensio's scheme to disguise himself to get access to Bianca, the sarcastic Grumio responds ironically, “Here’s no knavery (dishonesty).” His statement proves doubly ironic when we realize that Lucentio, who has just entered, is also being deceitful in order to get access to Bianca.