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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 4Scene 1
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“winter tames man, woman and beast”
Proverb
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 17-21

An explanation of “winter tames man…” in Act 4, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Curtis

Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported?    

Grumio

She was, good Curtis, before this frost. But thou
knowest winter tames man, woman and beast; for it hath
tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself,
fellow Curtis.

The proverb is “Winter and wedlock tame both man and beast.” Grumio pointedly omits wedlock as a taming agent in his version, probably doubting that marriage can ever tame Katherina.