Who does Petruchio introduce to Baptista and why is this character important?

• A. Litio from Mantua, who is Hortensio in disguise, to tutor Katharine and Bianca in music.
• B. A professional musician from Venice to perform for the wedding.
• C. Tranio pretending to be a tutor to Katharine and Bianca.
• D. Lucentio in disguise as a tutor to Bianca.

Answer: (A)

Disguise and social maneuvering drive much of the action here. Petruchio introduces a Mantuan musician named Litio to Baptista, and Litio is Hortensio in disguise. The point is that this character appears as a legitimate music tutor to Katharine and Bianca, giving Hortensio a respectable role inside Baptista’s household. That disguise lets Hortensio (Litio) court Bianca under the father’s eye and shape the girls’ piano/learning scene as a way to win favor, while also crossing paths with the other suitors in the plot. This use of a false identity shows how appearances and roles are used to influence marriage prospects and advance the schemes of Petruchio and his partners.