Is Tranio's plan successful?

• A. Yes, Baptista believes the merchant is Vincentio.
• B. No, Baptista rejects the plan.
• C. Yes, but only temporarily.
• D. No, Vincentio never appears.

Answer: (D)

The situation tests how a disguise and a staged identity rely on the real person behind it not showing up to blow the cover. Tranio, posing as Vincentio, uses the imagined authority of a wealthy father to smooth Baptista’s acceptance of Lucentio (as Cambio) and Bianca’s match. The plan works because the actual Vincentio never appears to expose the impersonation; Baptista buys the act and agrees to the arrangement, keeping the ruse intact for the moment. If the real Vincentio were to appear, the deception would be exposed and the plan would fall apart, which is why the critical condition for success is Vincentio’s absence. The other options hinge on beliefs or temporary success, but the lasting factor that guarantees the plan’s viability in the play is that Vincentio never appears.