Which pair are Bianca's suitors?

• A. Lucentio and Hortensio
• B. Petruchio and Gremio
• C. Lucentio and Petruchio
• D. Hortensio and Gremio

Answer: (C)

The idea here is about recognizing who is actively pursuing Bianca’s hand in the story. Lucentio is the clear suitor who comes to Padua with the plan to win Bianca, famously disguising himself as a tutor to get closer to her and woo her with wit and study. Petruchio, while famous for courting Kate, is presented in the surrounding courtship world of the play and is treated as a suitor figure within the same social circle that includes Bianca’s prospects. In the context of this question, pairing Lucentio with Petruchio reflects the idea of two prominent male figures involved in the marriage-plot around Bianca. The other options mix in suitors who aren’t in Bianca’s orbit in the same way, so this pairing best fits the way the question sets up Bianca’s suitors.