What does Baptista believe about the merchant's identity in Tranio's plan?

• A. He believes the merchant is Vincentio.
• B. He believes the merchant is a fraud.
• C. He refuses to meet the merchant.
• D. He suspects the merchant is a nobleman.

Answer: (A)

Disguise and mistaken identity propel this moment. Tranio is pretending to be Vincentio, the Mantuan merchant, to get access to Baptista’s agreement about Bianca’s marriage. Baptista meets the visitor and, unaware of the ruse, takes him at his word. He believes the merchant is the real Vincentio, the father figure behind Lucentio’s plan, and acts accordingly as though he’s negotiating with the legitimate Vincentio. That belief is what makes the arrangement seem legitimate to Baptista and keeps the deception in motion.

So the idea Baptista holds is that the merchant is Vincentio, not a fraud, not someone refusing to meet, and not someone he suspects is of noble rank. Vincentio’s status as a merchant rather than a nobleman is part of the illusion, but Baptista’s belief hinges on thinking the visitor is the real Vincentio, the father referenced in Lucentio’s scheme.