# Hortensio — The Taming of the Shrew character guide

> Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** 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:** 0000-the-taming-of-the-shrew

## Snapshot

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

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Petruchio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/petruchio)

_friendship_

Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally after abandoning his pursuit of Bianca.

### [Tranio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/tranio)

_rivalry_

Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.

### [Petruchio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/petruchio)

_friendship_

Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally after abandoning his pursuit of Bianca.

### [Petruchio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/petruchio)

_friendship_

Hortensio is a fellow suitor who initially befriends Petruchio and later becomes his ally after abandoning his pursuit of Bianca.

### [Tranio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/tranio)

_rivalry_

Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.

### [Tranio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/tranio)

_rivalry_

Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

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

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Informs Petruchio about Katharina and Bianca, and plans to disguise himself as a music teacher to court Bianca.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Disguised as Licio, he competes with Lucentio for Bianca's attention and becomes suspicious of his rival.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Reveals his true identity, forswears Bianca, and declares his intent to marry a wealthy widow.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Observes Petruchio's methods, commenting aside on Katharina's plight and Petruchio's dominance. He agrees to pay the tailor.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v)

Observes Petruchio's methods and decides to apply them to his own future wife, a widow.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Agrees to the wager, sends for his wife (the Widow), but she also refuses to come.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters/hortensio
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_taming_of_the_shrew_se/characters