The Taming of the Shrew · Character

Tranio

Lucentio's quick-witted servant, who dons his master's clothes and impersonates a wealthy heir with more flair than the real thing.

supporting

Also known as Lucentio Tranio, Enter Tranio, Tranio Softly, Tranio Ay, Tranio Faith, Tranio Gremio, Tranio Of all mad matches, Tranio Master, Tranio Sir, Tranio Patience, Tranio Mistress, Tranio Mi perdonato, Tranio Ay

First appearance: the taming of the shrew

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

Lucentio's servant, agrees to impersonate his master while Lucentio pursues Bianca in disguise.

In the storyScene IOpen this moment free

See Tranio in Scene I Book page

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Tranio is Lucentio's clever servant who agrees to swap identities so his master can woo Bianca in disguise, leaving Tranio to play the part of a rich young gentleman about town. He throws himself into the role with relish, negotiating with Baptista, fending off rival suitors, and even hiring a wandering pedant to impersonate Lucentio's father. His improvisations keep the courtship plot spinning, and his loyalty — however cheeky — makes him one of the play's most resourceful and entertaining schemers.

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The fuller portrait of Tranio sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Tranio in the taming of the shrew

Character Web

18 connections

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

Relationship types

Social
Friendship
Other

Character groups

Bianca's suitors and family
Protagonist

+13 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…

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Relationships

Petruchio
social · positive
Petruchio interacts frequently with Tranio, Lucentio's disguised servant, as a fellow… How this plays out →
Bianca
social · positive
Lucentio
friendship · positive
Katharina
social · ambivalent
Hortensio
rivalry · negative
Petruchio
social · positive
Petruchio interacts frequently with Tranio, Lucentio's disguised servant, as a fellow… How this plays out →
Katharina
social · ambivalent
Petruchio
social · positive
Petruchio interacts frequently with Tranio, Lucentio's disguised servant, as a fellow… How this plays out →
Katharina
social · ambivalent
Bianca
social · positive
Lucentio
friendship · positive
Bianca
social · positive

Petruchio
Petruchio interacts frequently with Tranio, Lucentio's disguised servant, as a fellow player in the schemes surrounding Bianca's suitors.
Bianca
Bianca interacts with Tranio, who is disguised as Lucentio, as part of the elaborate deception to win her hand.
Lucentio
Lucentio and his servant Tranio have a close, conspiratorial bond, with Tranio impersonating his master to further Lucentio's romantic goals.
Katharina
Katharina interacts with Tranio primarily as a bystander in the schemes surrounding her sister's suitors.
Hortensio
Hortensio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) compete as rival suitors for Bianca, leading to deception and eventual mutual abandonment of the pursuit.
Petruchio
Petruchio interacts frequently with Tranio, Lucentio's disguised servant, as a fellow player in the schemes surrounding Bianca's suitors.
Katharina
Katharina interacts with Tranio primarily as a bystander in the schemes surrounding her sister's suitors.
Petruchio
Petruchio interacts frequently with Tranio, Lucentio's disguised servant, as a fellow player in the schemes surrounding Bianca's suitors.
Katharina
Katharina interacts with Tranio primarily as a bystander in the schemes surrounding her sister's suitors.
Bianca
Bianca interacts with Tranio, who is disguised as Lucentio, as part of the elaborate deception to win her hand.
Lucentio
Lucentio and his servant Tranio have a close, conspiratorial bond, with Tranio impersonating his master to further Lucentio's romantic goals.
Bianca
Bianca interacts with Tranio, who is disguised as Lucentio, as part of the elaborate deception to win her hand.

Relationship notes

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

See Tranio in the taming of the shrew

In the story

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

Scene I
Lucentio's servant, agrees to impersonate his master while Lucentio pursues Bianca in disguise.
Scene II
Enters disguised as Lucentio and engages with the other suitors, agreeing to support Petruchio's courtship of Katharina.
Scene I
Appears as a suitor for Bianca and later remarks on the match.
Scene II
Defends Petruchio's intentions, observes the wedding chaos, and plots with Lucentio to secure Bianca.
Scene II
Observes Bianca's affection for Lucentio, forswears her, and orchestrates the scheme to have a pedant pose as Vincentio.
Scene IV
Disguised as Lucentio, he orchestrates the deception by presenting the Pedant as Vincentio and negotiating with Baptista.
Scene I
Disguised as Lucentio; orders the arrest of the real Vincentio before fleeing when the truth emerges.

Chapter companion notes

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

See Tranio in the taming of the shrew

See Tranio in Scene I