The wealthy father of two daughters, Bianca and Katherine, Baptista establishes a rule that no man may marry Bianca until his older daughter Katherine is married. This is Baptista's way of ensuring that someone will marry the ill-mannered, stubborn Katherine. Throughout the play, Baptista seems more interested in potential son-in-laws' financial matters than their love for Bianca (or Bianca's love for them). He eagerly marries Katherine off to Petruchio against her will and only assents to marrying Bianca to Lucentio because he makes the best offer of a dower (the money Bianca would be entitled to in the case of Lucentio's death).
Baptista Minola Quotes in The Taming of the Shrew
The The Taming of the Shrew quotes below are all either spoken by Baptista Minola or refer to Baptista Minola. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
Nay, now I see
She [Bianca] is your [Baptista's] treasure, she must have a husband,
I must dance barefoot on her wedding day
And, for your love to her, lead apes in hell.
Talk not to me. I will go sit and weep
Till I can find occasion of revenge.
Related Characters:
Katherine (speaker), Baptista Minola, Bianca
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Then tell me, if I get your daughter's love,
What dowry shall I have with her to wife?
Related Characters:
Petruchio (speaker), Baptista Minola, Katherine
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry ‘greed on,
And will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Related Characters:
Petruchio (speaker), Baptista Minola, Katherine
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, Scene 5
Quotes
Now, by my mother's son, and that's myself,
It shall be moon, or star, or what I list,
Or e'er I journey to your father's house.
Related Characters:
Petruchio (speaker), Baptista Minola, Katherine
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Taming of the Shrew LitChart as a printable PDF.
Baptista Minola Character Timeline in The Taming of the Shrew
The timeline below shows where the character Baptista Minola appears in The Taming of the Shrew. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
Baptista enters with his two daughters, Katherine and Bianca. Two men, Gremio and Hortensio, enter as...
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Lucentio, meanwhile, has become obsessed with Bianca's beauty. Baptista tells Bianca to leave and go inside, and she is polite and deferential, in contrast...
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Baptista says that he will keep only schoolmasters in his house, to instruct Bianca in music...
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...rude, boisterous sister, but Lucentio speaks only of Bianca's beauty. Tranio fills Lucentio in on Baptista's condition for Bianca's marriage. Lucentio says he has an idea, and Tranio says that he...
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Act 1, Scene 2
...about is finding a wealthy wife, and is eager to meet Katherine. He adds that Baptista knew his father and wants to go see Katherine immediately. Grumio is confident that Petruchio...
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Hortensio tells Petruchio that he must accompany him to Baptista's house, since he is in love with Baptista's younger daughter Bianca, whom Baptista refuses to...
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Hortensio greets Gremio, who tells him that he is on the way to Baptista's house, to bring Cambio to teach Bianca. Hortensio responds that he has found someone to...
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...disguised as Lucentio, with his servant Biondello. Tranio asks the group how to get to Baptista's house. Hortensio asks if he is a suitor of one of Baptista's daughters. Gremio and...
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Act 2, Scene 1
In Baptista's house, Katherine is teasing Bianca. She has Bianca's hands tied and asks her which of...
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Baptista enters and is upset to see Katherine abusing Bianca. He unties Bianca's hands and sends...
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...tutor named Litio). Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) enters with Biondello. Petruchio introduces himself and tells Baptista he is interested in Katherine. He introduces "Litio" (really Hortensio) as a teacher of math...
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...interrupts to introduce "Cambio" (really Lucentio) as a teacher of Greek, Latin, and other languages. Baptista thanks him for the teacher, and then asks who Tranio is. Tranio introduces himself as...
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Petruchio discusses the dowry for Katherine and assures Baptista that he is strong enough to make Katherine yield to him. He claims, "I am...
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...over his head. Petruchio is amused and says he loves her even more than before. Baptista tells "Litio" (Hortensio) to try teaching Bianca instead. He goes inside to send Katherine out...
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...actually pleasant and sweet. Katherine is frustrated by his absurd praise. Petruchio tells her that Baptista has agreed to make him Katherine's husband. He tells her, "I am he am born...
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Baptista enters with Gremio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio). Katherine complains to her father that he...
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Baptista now sets his mind to figuring out who Bianca's husband will be. Gremio claims that...
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Baptista says that he will give Bianca to Lucentio on the Sunday after Katherine and Petruchio's...
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Act 3, Scene 1
Within Baptista's household, Lucentio (disguised as Cambio) and Hortensio (disguised as Litio) instruct Bianca. The two squabble...
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Act 3, Scene 2
It is Katherine and Petruchio's wedding day, and Baptista, Gremio, Katherine, Bianca, Tranio (disguised as Lucentio), and Lucentio (disguised as Cambio) are all present...
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...Petruchio acts as if nothing is strange about his attire, and asks where Katherine is. Baptista is offended by Petruchio's lateness and ridiculous clothing. He and Tranio tell Petruchio to change...
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...to be Lucentio's father, Vincentio. This man will promise great riches to Lucentio, so that Baptista will approve of his daughter marrying him. Tranio assures Lucentio that he will beat out...
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Petruchio enters, along with Katherine. Bianca, Baptista, Hortensio, and Grumio. Petruchio announces that he will leave now, skipping the traditional wedding feast...
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...Petruchio's behavior. Bianca says that Katherine is mad and has found a fittingly mad mate. Baptista tells everyone that they can still enjoy the feast, and that Lucentio (actually Tranio) and...
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Act 4, Scene 4
...Tranio (still disguised as Lucentio) brings the merchant, who is dressed up as Vincentio, to Baptista's house. Biondello arrives, as well, and Tranio reminds him to act as if the merchant...
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Baptista is convinced that the merchant is Vincentio. Baptista, the merchant, and Tranio decide to go...
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Lucentio returns and Biondello informs him of their plans. Baptista has asked for Cambio to bring Bianca to a banquet, agreeing to marry her to...
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Act 5, Scene 1
...Biondello and the merchant to cry out that a madman is attacking them. Biondello leaves. Baptista and Tranio (still impersonating Lucentio) enter. Vincentio is furious at his servant Tranio when Tranio...
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...fearing punishment, Biondello, Tranio, and the merchant run away. Lucentio reveals his true identity to Baptista and Vincentio, and explains how he and Tranio changed places. He says that he was...
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Act 5, Scene 2
It is finally time for Lucentio and Bianca's wedding banquet. Baptista, Vincentio, Gremio, the merchant who had pretended to be Vincentio, Lucentio, Bianca, Petruchio, and Katherine...
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...The women leave, and Tranio also teases Petruchio, saying he is ruled by his wife. Baptista tells Petruchio that he has "the veriest shrew of all," (v.2.66).
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The men are amazed at Katherine's obedience. Baptista says that Petruchio has won the bet, and jokes that he'll give him even more...
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