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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 3Scene 2
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Tranio’s behavior
Discussion
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 18-25

A discussion of Tranio’s confusing behavior in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Katherina

Now must the world point at poor Katherine
And say, 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife,
If it would please him come and marry her.’    

Tranio-as-Lucentio

Patience, good Katherine, and Baptista too.
Upon my life, Petruchio means but well,
Whatever fortune stays him from his word.    
Though he be blunt, I know him passing wise;    
Though he be merry, yet withal he's honest.    

This is a minor point, but did you wonder how it is that Tranio knows Petruchio so well? Tranio and Lucentio are from Pisa, while Petruchio is from Verona. It seems likely that, while making a revision to an earlier version of the play, Shakespeare transferred these lines to Tranio from another character and failed to notice this little discrepancy.