Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too…
“Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry. Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Petruchio: My remedy is then, to pluck it out. Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies. Petruchio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail. Katherine: In his tongue. Petruchio: Whose tongue? Katherine: Yours, if you talk of tails: and so farewell. Petruchio: What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
In this witty exchange, Petruchio and Katherine use wordplay about a wasp’s sting to tease each other, highlighting their banter and the play’s theme of verbal sparring.
In simple terms: A clever word game about a wasp’s sting.
Key Takeaway
Playful linguistic duel.
Themes
wordplay
wit
gender dynamics
theatre
Mood
witty
light‑hearted
Type
dramatic dialogue
When to use this quote
- stage performances
- literary analysis classes
- debates on sarcasm
Key Concepts
rhetorical strategy
power dynamics
Practical Applications
- Teach rhetorical techniques
- Use humor to defuse tension
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor reveal underlying conflict?
- What does the wasp metaphor suggest about communication?
A Different Perspective
The banter can mask deeper power struggles between characters.