Here is the line-by-line modern paraphrase of Katherine’s monologue from The Taming of the Shrew (Act III, Scene ii):

Original: No shame but mine; I must, forsooth, be forc’d
Modern: The only one being humiliated here is me; I am being forced

Original: To give my hand, oppos’d against my heart,
Modern: To marry someone I never wanted,

Original: Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,
Modern: To this crazy, rude, hot-tempered man,

Original: Who woo’d in haste and means to wed at leisure.
Modern: Who rushed to propose but clearly has no intention of actually getting married anytime soon.

Original: I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
Modern: I told you all along that he was a reckless idiot,

Original: Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour;
Modern: Disguising his cruel jokes behind his rough and rude attitude;

Original: And, to be noted for a merry man,
Modern: And just to get a reputation as a fun and witty guy,

Original: He’ll woo a thousand, ‘point the day of marriage,
Modern: He’ll court a thousand women, set a wedding date,

Original: Make friends invited, and proclaim the banns;
Modern: Invite all the guests, and make the public announcement of the wedding;

Original: Yet never means to wed where he hath woo’d.
Modern: But he never actually intends to marry any of the women he pursues.

Original: Now must the world point at poor Katherine,
Modern: And now everyone in the world will point their fingers at poor Katherine,

Original: And say ‘Lo, there is mad Petruchio’s wife,
Modern: And say, “Look, there goes the wife of that crazy Petruchio —

Original: If it would please him come and marry her!’
Modern: That is, if he ever bothers to show up and actually marry her!”

In Act III, Scene 2 of “The Taming of the Shrew,” the wedding day arrives and the assembled guests, including Baptista, Katherine, Bianca, and various attendants, wait anxiously for Petruchio’s arrival. As time passes, Petruchio fails to appear at the appointed hour, causing great embarrassment and distress to Katherine, who fears she has been made a laughingstock. Baptista attempts to console his daughter while the other characters express their concern and speculation about the groom’s absence. Katherine’s humiliation turns to anger as she realizes she may have been publicly abandoned at the altar.

When Petruchio finally arrives, he appears in deliberately outrageous attire - wearing mismatched, worn clothing and riding an old, diseased horse, accompanied by his servant Grumio who is similarly disheveled. Despite the protests and shock of the wedding party at his inappropriate appearance, Petruchio insists the ceremony proceed immediately. After the wedding occurs offstage, Petruchio returns and announces his intention to leave immediately with Katherine, refusing to stay for the traditional wedding feast despite the urgent pleas of Baptista and the other guests. When Katherine resists his demand to depart, Petruchio delivers a speech claiming his rights as her husband and whisks her away, leaving the remaining characters to marvel at his strange behavior and Katherine’s sudden departure.

The Taming of the Shrew opens with an induction featuring Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker who is tricked by a lord into believing he is nobility. A troupe of players performs the main play for Sly’s entertainment, though this framing device is largely forgotten after the first act.

The central plot follows Petruchio of Verona, who comes to Padua seeking a wealthy wife. He learns of Katherina Minola, the shrewish elder daughter of the rich Baptista, whom no man dares court due to her fierce temper and sharp tongue. Baptista has decreed that no suitor may court his younger, gentler daughter Bianca until Katherina is married. Petruchio, undaunted by Katherina’s reputation and attracted by her substantial dowry, courts and weds her despite her protests and violent resistance during their first meeting.

Meanwhile, multiple suitors pursue Bianca, including Lucentio (who disguises himself as a Latin tutor), Gremio (an old pantaloon), and Hortensio (who disguises himself as a music teacher). Lucentio and his servant Tranio orchestrate an elaborate deception, with Tranio assuming his master’s identity to court Bianca openly while Lucentio teaches her in disguise. Eventually, Bianca falls in love with Lucentio, and they secretly marry, while Hortensio abandons his pursuit and marries a wealthy widow.

After his wedding, Petruchio takes Katherina to his country house, where he employs various tactics to “tame” her, including depriving her of food and sleep under the pretense that nothing is good enough for her, and contradicting her at every turn. Gradually, Katherina appears to submit to his will. The play concludes with a feast where the three new husbands wager on whose wife is most obedient. Katherina proves most compliant, delivering a lengthy speech on wifely duty and obedience, winning Petruchio the wager and apparently demonstrating her complete transformation.