Why might Baptista find Petruchio's compliment of Katharine ironic?

• A. Katherine is the exact opposite, especially after she struck Bianca.
• B. Katherine is known for being gentle and virtuous.
• C. Petruchio's compliments always please Baptista regardless.
• D. Baptista expects Katharine to be easily swayed by praise.

Answer: (A)

The concept at work here is irony driven by character contrast. Baptista would hear Petruchio praise Katharine as gentle and virtuous and find that claim incongruous because Katharine is famously hot-tempered and stubborn. This irony is heightened by moments showing her volatility (such as when she lashes out, like striking Bianca), which makes Petruchio’s flattering words feel deliberately at odds with her real nature. In other words, the compliment cannot be taken at face value because it clashes with what Baptista and everyone else know about Katharine. The other options miss that mismatch: they either picture Katharine as gentle, or claim Petruchio’s praise always pleases Baptista, or that Baptista expects Katharine to be swayed by praise—none of these align with Katharine’s reputation and the situational irony of Petruchio’s compliment.