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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 2Scene 1
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“Women are made to bear”
Wordplay
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 194-199

An explanation of Petruchio’s innuendo in Act 2, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Katherina

You were a moveable.    

Petruchio

Why, what's a moveable?

Katherina

A joined stool.

Petruchio

Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me.    

Katherina

Asses are made to bear, and so are you.

Petruchio

Women are made to bear, and so are you.

To paraphrase Petruchio, “Since women were made to bear — both children and the weight of a man during sex — you must also be an ass.”