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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 5Scene 2
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“You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense”
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 2
Lines 16-19

An explanation of Petruchio’s wordplay on “sensible” and “sense” in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow!    

Widow

Then never trust me if I be afeard.    

Petruchio

You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense;    
I mean, Hortensio is afeard of you.

Petruchio plays on sensible (perceptive) and sense (meaning). The widow is perceptive, but she doesn’t understand what Petruchio is saying.