What assurance does Baptista want from Lucentio?

• A. He will tutor Bianca in music
• B. He is the richest man of the competitors for Bianca's hand in marriage
• C. He will marry Katharine if Bianca does
• D. He will provide a large dowry

Answer: (B)

Baptista’s main concern is Bianca’s future security and social standing, which, in the world of the play, hinges on the wealth a husband can bring and maintain. He wants solid assurance that the suitor can provide a strong financial arrangement for Bianca, so identifying Lucentio as the wealthiest of Bianca’s competitors would give him confidence that Bianca’s dowry and status will be protected. The tutoring angle is a plot device Lucentio uses to win Bianca, not the guarantee Baptista is seeking. The idea of marrying Katharine if Bianca marries reflects a different dynamic, not the specific financial assurance Baptista demands. Providing a large dowry relates to wealth, but the clearest and most direct assurance Baptista seeks is that Lucentio is the richest candidate among Bianca’s suitors.