Which motif does this moment with Gremio, Hortensio, and Tranio as Lucentio support?

• A. gender roles
• B. magic
• C. fate
• D. heroism

Answer: (A)

Disguise and social performance reveal how gender roles shape courting. In this moment, Gremio and Hortensio discuss Bianca as if her marriage prospects are a matter of who can present themselves best, while Tranio plays the part of Lucentio to influence those prospects. Their exchanges show that what counts in courtship isn’t just desire but appearances, status, and learned identity—all of which are deeply gendered expectations about who may woo, who controls a daughter's marriage, and how men must perform to secure a match. The humor and tension arise from men adopting roles of educated suitors to win Bianca, exposing how rigid gender norms govern behavior in marriage negotiations. The other motifs—magic, fate, or heroism—don’t fit this moment, which centers on social norms and gendered power in courting.