Original: Be patient, gentlemen. I choose her for myself;
Modern: Calm down, gentlemen. I’m choosing her because I want to;

Original: If she and I be pleas’d, what’s that to you?
Modern: If she and I are happy, what business is it of yours?

Original: ‘Tis bargain’d ‘twixt us twain, being alone,
Modern: We made an agreement between the two of us, in private,

Original: That she shall still be curst in company.
Modern: That she’ll continue to act badly tempered when other people are around.

Original: I tell you ‘tis incredible to believe.
Modern: I’m telling you, it’s hard to believe.

Original: How much she loves me- O, the kindest Kate!
Modern: How much she loves me—oh, she’s the sweetest Kate!

Original: She hung about my neck, and kiss on kiss
Modern: She threw her arms around my neck, and kiss after kiss

Original: She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
Modern: She competed to give me so quickly, swearing promise after promise,

Original: That in a twink she won me to her love.
Modern: That in an instant she won my love.

Original: O, you are novices! ‘Tis a world to see,
Modern: Oh, you’re all amateurs! It’s amazing to see

Original: How tame, when men and women are alone,
Modern: How gentle, when men and women are by themselves,

Original: A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.
Modern: A weak, timid man can make even the worst-tempered woman.

Original: Give me thy hand, Kate; I will unto Venice,
Modern: Give me your hand, Kate; I’m going to Venice,

Original: To buy apparel ‘gainst the wedding-day.
Modern: To buy clothing in preparation for our wedding day.

Original: Provide the feast, father, and bid the guests;
Modern: Arrange the wedding feast, father, and invite the guests;

Original: I will be sure my Katherine shall be fine.
Modern: I’ll make sure my Katherine is dressed beautifully.

In Act II, Scene 1 of “The Taming of the Shrew,” Petruchio arrives at Baptista’s house in Padua, accompanied by his servant Grumio, seeking to court Katherina. Baptista welcomes Petruchio and introduces him to Gremio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio), who are both suitors for Bianca. Petruchio boldly declares his intention to marry Katherina, despite warnings about her shrewish behavior. Baptista agrees to the match if Petruchio can win Katherina’s consent, and they negotiate the financial arrangements, including Petruchio’s inheritance from his father and the dowry Baptista will provide.

Meanwhile, Gremio and Tranio compete to demonstrate their wealth and worthiness as suitors for Bianca. Tranio, pretending to be the young Lucentio, claims extensive lands and riches, while Gremio lists his own substantial assets. When Katherina enters, she immediately clashes with Petruchio in a battle of wits filled with puns and verbal sparring. Despite Katherina’s resistance and even physical aggression, Petruchio claims she has agreed to marry him and announces to the others that their wedding will take place on Sunday. Baptista consents to the arrangement, and Petruchio departs to prepare for the ceremony, leaving Katherina furious at being betrothed against her will.

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.