Tranio

Play

The Taming of the Shrew

Summary

Tranio is Lucentio's clever, resourceful servant who assumes his master's identity wholesale — name, clothes, and manner — so that Lucentio can infiltrate Baptista's household disguised as a humble tutor. Tranio negotiates with Baptista, out-bids Gremio for Bianca's hand, and recruits a Pedant to impersonate Lucentio's father, making him the chief architect of the courtship plot's elaborate deceptions.

Notable Quotations

"Master, it is no time to chide you now; / Affection is not rated from the heart." *(3.2)*

Cross-references

• The Taming of the Shrew — the play
• Comedies
• character_lucentio — his master, whose identity he assumes
• character_baptista — whom he courts on Lucentio's behalf
• character_gremio — rival suitor he outmaneuvers