Petruchio, bold as ever, says he will marry her on the following Sunday. Katherina's father gives his blessing and settles that Katherina and Petruchio will indeed marry each other on the following Sunday.

Meanwhile, to settle things with the suitors pursuing Bianca, Baptista declares that, on the Sunday following Katherina's wedding, Bianca will marry the man who provides the largest dowry. Baptista accepts the proposal of Lucentio, who says his father has the most amazing wealth.

At the wedding, Petruchio arrives late on a pathetic and skinny horse. He is wearing unkempt clothes and is accompanied by a disheveled servant, Grumio. Pretending he just wants to consummate his marriage, Petruchio carries Katherina off to his house ignoring the feast and the festivities following their wedding ceremonies. Katherina is completely embarrassed. Once at the house, Petruchio only wants the best for his wife and nothing short of perfect will do.

So he browbeats and nitpicks the servants for every shortcoming, real or imagined. When food is served, he throws the meal every which way and poor Katherina goes to bed hungry.

When Petruchio decides to return to Padua for a visit, he orders new clothes for Katherina but she gets none because he finds fault with all of the clothes.

The final straw comes when the couple is on their way back to Padua and Petruchio calls the sun the moon and Katherina agrees and he calls her a liar. Katherina gives up and finally submits.

Meanwhile, in Padua, Lucentio has won Bianca, and Hortensio has married a wealthy widow. At a banquet, an intriguing question is posed: Which husband has the least obedient wife? All three husbands issue commands, but only Katherina obeys. She then lectures everyone on the importance of wifely submission. Petruchio then says the very famous line "Come on, and kiss me Kate."