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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 2Scene 1
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“Too light for such a swain”
Double Meanings
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 198-204

An explanation of Katherina’s wordplay on “light” and “heavy” in Act 2, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Katherina

Asses are made to bear, and so are you.

Petruchio

Women are made to bear, and so are you.

Katherina

No such jade as you, if me you mean.    

Petruchio

Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee,
For knowing thee to be but young and light —

Katherina

Too light for such a swain as you to catch,
And yet as heavy as my weight should be.

“Too light for such a swain as you to catch,”

  1. She is too fast (light) for a country bumpkin (swain) to catch.
  2. She is too insignificant (light) for a Romeo (swain) to bother pursuing.

“And yet as heavy as my weight should be”

  1. She is not a light (promiscuous) woman; she’s as heavy (morally serious) as a young noblewoman should be.
  2. In Shakespeare’s day, just like today, each type of minted coin was supposed to contain a specified amount of gold or silver, but people sometimes devalued a coin by clipping the edges, making it “light.” Unlike a light coin, Katherina retains her full value.