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“When you are gentle”
Double Meaning
Act 4,
Scene 3
Lines 63-72a

An explanation of Petruchio’s double meaning on “gentle” in Act 4, Scene 3 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Haberdasher

Here is the cap your worship did bespeak.    

Petruchio

Why, this was moulded on a porringer,
A velvet dish. Fie, fie; 'tis lewd and filthy.    
Why, 'tis a cockle or a walnut-shell,    
A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap.    
Away with it! Come, let me have a bigger.

Katherina

I'll have no bigger. This doth fit the time,    
And gentlewomen wear such caps as these.

Petruchio

When you are gentle, you shall have one too,
And not till then.

Hortensio

Katherina

Petruchio

Katherina

[Exit Haberdasher]

Petruchio

Hortensio

Tailor

Petruchio

Katherina

Petruchio

Tailor

Petruchio

Tailor

Grumio

Tailor

Grumio

Tailor

Grumio

Tailor

Grumio

Tailor

Petruchio

Grumio

Tailor

Grumio

Petruchio

Tailor

Grumio

Tailor

Grumio

Tailor

Petruchio

Grumio

Tailor

Grumio

Hortensio

Petruchio

Grumio

Petruchio

Grumio

[Pretending that Petruchio is addressing him]

Petruchio

Grumio

Petruchio

Hortensio

[Exit Tailor]

Petruchio

Katherina

Petruchio

[Exit]

Hortensio

  1. When you are nice.
  2. When you are a noblewoman