How many lines does Petruchio have in The Taming of the Shrew?
The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.
The Offbook team
Oct 8, 2026
Petruchio has about 584 lines in The Taming of the Shrew: 4,604 words in 158 speeches, 22.6% of the play, and the largest part. The role speaks in 8 of the 14 scenes.
Petruchio is the largest part, nearly a quarter of the words, and once he arrives in Act 1, Scene 2 he is never offstage for more than one scene at a time. His biggest scene is the first meeting with Katharina in Act 2, Scene 1, a fast duel of wordplay. In Act 4, Scene 1 he explains his taming plan to the audience in his longest speech.
- Lines
- 584
- Words
- 4,604
- Share of play
- 22.6%
- Speech time
- 33 min
88% of the words are verse. 158 speeches means about 158 cues to learn.
Scene by scene
| Scene | Words | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 2 | 615 | 4.4 |
| Act 2, Scene 1 | 1,302 | 9.3 |
| Act 3, Scene 2 | 485 | 3.5 |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | 574 | 4.1 |
| Act 4, Scene 3 | 705 | 5.0 |
| Act 4, Scene 5 | 325 | 2.3 |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 132 | 0.9 |
| Act 5, Scene 2 | 466 | 3.3 |
The longest speeches
| Speech | Scene | Words |
|---|---|---|
| “Thus have I politicly begun my reign,” | Act 4, Scene 1 | 204 |
| “Well, come, my Kate; we will unto your father’s” | Act 4, Scene 3 | 162 |
| “They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.” | Act 3, Scene 2 | 147 |
| “Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in.” | Act 4, Scene 1 | 135 |
| “Be patient, gentlemen; I choose her for myself:” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 133 |
| “I pray you do. I will attend her here,” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 129 |
| “No, not a whit: I find you passing gentle.” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 125 |
| “Marry, so I mean, sweet Katharine, in thy bed:” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 120 |
How many lines a day to learn
New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.
| Time until off book | New lines a day |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 59 |
| 3 weeks | 39 |
| 4 weeks | 30 |
| 6 weeks | 20 |
More from The Taming of the Shrew
- How many lines does Katharina have?
- How many lines does Tranio have?
- How many lines does Hortensio have?
- Every role in The Taming of the Shrew, by size
Questions actors ask
How many lines does Petruchio have in The Taming of the Shrew?
About 584 lines: 500 lines of verse and 572 words of prose. That is 4,604 words in 158 speeches, 22.6% of the play and the largest part.
How long is Petruchio’s longest speech?
204 words, in Act 4, Scene 1, beginning “Thus have I politicly begun my reign,” At 140 words a minute it runs about 1.5 minutes.
How long does it take to learn Petruchio?
To be off book in three weeks, learning five days a week, plan on about 39 new lines a day, plus time to review what you already know. Start with your longest speeches and the scenes with the most cues.
Keep reading
- The Taming of the Shrew: every role by lines, words, and stage timeWilliam Shakespeare. Line counts, scenes, and the longest speeches.
- How many lines does Katharina have in The Taming of the Shrew?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Hortensio have in The Taming of the Shrew?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Hamlet have in Hamlet?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.