Act IV, Scene 4

The Pedant, disguised as Vincentio, meets with Tranio outside Baptista’s house. When they enter, Vincentio tells Baptista that he approves of the marriage of his son to Bianca. They arrange to meet at Tranio’s house to settle the terms of the dowry and the marriage.

Cambio (Lucentio) is sent to fetch Bianca. When he re-enters with Biondello, it is decided that now is the time for Cambio to marry Bianca. Biondello leaves to fetch a priest, and Lucentio leaves to find Bianca.

This scene, unlike the former one, does little to develop characterization or provide humor; it does, however, advance the subplot. The Pedant, disguised as Vincentio, meets with Baptista and agrees to the marriage of their children. Baptista, in turn, sends Cambio (Lucentio) to find Bianca, for her wedding will soon take place. The irony is that he is sending the real Lucentio to find the false one and what will happen is that in Baptista’s mind his daughter will marry the wrong man when she marries Cambio.

This scene is rather lifeless and fails to entertain the audience like most of the scenes in the play; as a result, most critics believe that this subplot scene is the work of one of Shakespeare’s collaborators.

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