The Taming of the Shrew: Act 4, Scene 5 Summary & Analysis

Petruchio, Katherine, Hortensio, and some of Petruchio's servants are making the journey from Petruchio's house to Padua. Though it is the middle of the day, Petruchio comments on how brightly the moon shines. Katherine corrects him and Petruchio refuses to continue their journey until she says that he is right.

Katherine relents and agrees that it is the moon shining, not the sun. Petruchio immediately changes his mind and says that it is the sun and Katherine is wrong. Katherine agrees with him that the sun is shining. Hortensio comments that Petruchio has tamed Katherine and that "the field is won," (iv.5.26).

Pleased that Katherine is obedient, Petruchio prepares to continue the journey, but just as they are setting out again, they encounter an old man. Petruchio addresses the man as a young woman, praising her beauty. He tells Katherine to embrace the young woman, and Katherine complies. She calls him a "young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet," (iv.5.41) but then Petruchio calls her mad and says that he is clearly an old man. Katherine apologizes.

The old man introduces himself as Vincentio and says that he is traveling to Padua to see his son Lucentio. Petruchio happily greets him as his father-in-law, since Lucentio is marrying Katherine's sister. Vincentio is confused by this and thinks that Petruchio is playing a joke on him. They all continue their journey to Padua together, with Hortensio commenting on how remarkably Petruchio tamed Katherine.