Who wanted Bianca?

Who Wanted Bianca? The Courtship Behind a Shakespearean Romance

In William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, Bianca Minola is the picture of grace and desirability—everything her older sister Katherina is not, at least in the eyes of Padua’s society. Unsurprisingly, Bianca quickly becomes the object of affection for several suitors eager to win her hand.

Among them, two men stand out: Hortensio and Lucentio. Determined to get close to Bianca, both resort to deception. Lucentio, smitten at first sight, disguises himself as a Latin tutor named "Cambio" to gain access to the Minola household. Meanwhile, Hortensio, also desperate to woo her, dresses up as a music teacher, calling himself "Licio."

While both men scheme to win her heart, it’s Lucentio’s passion—and perhaps his better luck—that carries the day. His love, though dramatic and impulsive, resonates more deeply with Bianca. Behind their tutors’ facades, the two young lovers exchange tender moments and secret glances, forging a bond that transcends mere infatuation.

Still, Bianca’s father has made one thing clear: his younger daughter cannot marry until her sharp-tongued older sister, Katherina, is wed. This rule forces the suitors into a tangled web of rivalry and ruse. Yet Lucentio remains undeterred, even going so far as to race against time and fortune to claim Bianca first.

In the end, Bianca chooses Lucentio—not just for his charm, but perhaps for the lengths he went to be near her. Their wedding marks a moment of triumph, though Shakespeare leaves hints that this union may not be as ideal as it seems. After all, Bianca’s gentle exterior belies a will of her own, and her final act of defiance—refusing to obey her husband’s call—suggests that even the most docile façade can crack.

So who wanted Bianca? Many. But only one truly won her—on paper, at least.