The Taming of the Shrew · Character

Hortensio

A Paduan gentleman and Bianca's suitor who disguises himself as a music teacher, only to be outmaneuvered and redirected toward a wealthy widow.

supporting

Also known as Hortensio Sir, Signior Hortensio, Hortensio Sirrah, Plead Hortensio, Hortensio Signior Baptista, Hortensio Gremio, Hortensio Madam, Hortensio Grumio, Hortensio Petruchio

First appearance: the taming of the shrew

As a supporting figure in The Taming of the Shrew, Hortensio is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A suitor of Bianca, agrees with Gremio to find a husband for Katharina to enable Bianca's marriage.

In the storyScene IOpen this moment free

Hortensio is one of Bianca's eager suitors, so determined that he poses as the music master Licio to gain access to her house. When he discovers his rival Lucentio already has Bianca's ear, he forswears her on the spot and pivots to a rich widow who has long loved him — a decision that lands him in a marriage as combative as any in the play. His running commentary on Petruchio's methods and his own hasty betrothal make him both a foil and a comic mirror to the main plot.

See Hortensio in Scene I Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Hortensio sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Bianca's suitors and family
Minor characters and disguises
Protagonist

+15 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Katharina’s desp…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Petruchio
friendship · positive
Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally… How this plays out →
Tranio
rivalry · negative
Petruchio
friendship · positive
Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally… How this plays out →
Petruchio
friendship · positive
Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally… How this plays out →
Tranio
rivalry · negative
Tranio
rivalry · negative

Petruchio
Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally after abandoning his pursuit of Bianca.
Tranio
Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.
Petruchio
Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally after abandoning his pursuit of Bianca.
Petruchio
Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally after abandoning his pursuit of Bianca.
Tranio
Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.
Tranio
Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Hortensio in the taming of the shrew

In the story

Hortensio appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene I
A suitor of Bianca, agrees with Gremio to find a husband for Katharina to enable Bianca's marriage.
Scene II
Informs Petruchio about Katharina and Bianca, and plans to disguise himself as a music teacher to court Bianca.
Scene I
Disguised as Licio, he competes with Lucentio for Bianca's attention and becomes suspicious of his rival.
Scene II
Reveals his true identity, forswears Bianca, and declares his intent to marry a wealthy widow.
Scene III
Observes Petruchio's methods, commenting aside on Katharina's plight and Petruchio's dominance. He agrees to pay the tailor.
Scene V
Observes Petruchio's methods and decides to apply them to his own future wife, a widow.
Scene II
Agrees to the wager, sends for his wife (the Widow), but she also refuses to come.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Hortensio unlock in the free preview.

See Hortensio in the taming of the shrew

See Hortensio in Scene I