According to Petruchio, why are he and Bianca a perfect match?

• A. Because they are both aggressive.
• B. Because they both desire gentle, quiet wives.
• C. Because they both dislike Katharine.
• D. Because they both come from wealthy families.

Answer: (A)

Petruchio is thinking in terms of energy and control in marriage. He wants a wife who can meet his bold, domineering approach rather than someone passive or easily cowed. If he calls a pairing with Bianca a perfect match because they’re both aggressive, he’s signaling that he believes a successful marriage there would come from two strong-willed partners who can push and maneuver in social situations, keep up with each other, and not back down easily. In that light, shared assertiveness becomes the basis for compatibility.

The other options miss that dynamic: seeking a gentle, quiet wife runs opposite to Petruchio’s forceful temperament; disliking Katharine isn’t the measure of a match with Bianca; and wealth, while relevant, doesn’t address the transactional, power-focused balance he imagines in a partnership.