Katherine is the older daughter of a wealthy Paduan gentleman. She holds a notorious reputation throughout Padua as a "shrew" due to her sharp tongue, quick temper, and outright refusal to act like a mild-mannered lady. Because her father refuses to let her younger sister marry until Katherine finds a husband, she finds herself isolated and constantly at odds with her family and community.

Petruchio is a confident young nobleman from Verona who travels to Padua following his father's death to seek his fortune. He openly states he wants to find a wealthy wife and does not care about her personality, leading him straight to Katherine. He is calculating, loud, and more than willing to behave wildly to get his way.

Bianca is Baptista's younger daughter, celebrated throughout Padua for her modesty, beauty, and outwardly gentle demeanor. She has multiple suitors vying for her hand, yet she quietly keeps an eye on her own interests. Underneath her virtuous public face, she possesses a sharp mind and carefully manages the men trying to court her.

Lucentio is a young, wealthy Pisan nobleman who comes to Padua for an education. Well-versed in poetry and romance, he abandons his scholarly plans the moment he spots Bianca in the street. He eagerly agrees to trade identities with his servant to infiltrate Baptista's house as a disguised tutor.

Tranio is Lucentio's streetwise and highly capable servant. He quickly concocts the central deception that allows his master to court Bianca in secret. A skilled actor, Tranio confidently assumes his master's identity, clothes, and aristocratic mannerisms to negotiate massive marriage contracts with wealthy Paduans.

Baptista is a wealthy gentleman of Padua and father to Katherine and Bianca. Deeply concerned with finances and social status, he treats his daughters' marriages primarily as business transactions. He actively favors his compliant younger daughter and uses his older daughter as a roadblock to extract the best possible deals.

Gremio is an elderly, wealthy suitor pursuing the young Bianca. Functioning as a traditional comic old man, he has far more money than sense or charm. He stubbornly refuses to give up his pursuit, relying entirely on his vast wealth to win Baptista's favor rather than trying to win Bianca's affection.

Hortensio is a young gentleman of Padua and one of Bianca's hopeful suitors. Frustrated by Baptista's rules, he recruits his friend Petruchio to marry Katherine so the path to Bianca will open. He goes so far as to disguise himself as a music tutor to court Bianca, though he proves somewhat naive about love.

Christopher Sly is a lecherous, rowdy, and lower-class peddler who serves as the central figure in the play's framing narrative. After a local lord plays an elaborate prank on him, Sly quickly adjusts to his sudden wealth and noble status, sitting back to watch the main play unfold.

Grumio is Petruchio's long-suffering servant. He travels with his master from Verona and frequently bears the brunt of Petruchio's boisterous temper and casual violence.

Biondello is Lucentio's second servant. Though bewildered by the sudden identity swaps between his master and Tranio, he willingly plays along with the deception to help his master win the woman he loves.

Vincentio is Lucentio's elderly, wealthy father from Pisa. He travels to Padua to check on his son's university studies, only to walk directly into the middle of a massive identity-swap deception where another man claims his name.

The Merchant is an unsuspecting traveler from Mantua. Fearing for his life due to a lie about local laws, he agrees to impersonate a wealthy nobleman to provide the financial guarantees needed for a marriage contract.

The Wealthy Widow is a local woman who has long harbored affections for Hortensio. She provides a convenient alternative for him when his pursuit of Bianca fails.

The Lord is a wealthy aristocrat who orchestrates the play's elaborate frame story. Finding a man passed out in the street, he uses his massive resources to set up an extensive theatrical illusion strictly for his own amusement.

The Pageboy is a servant to the local lord. He follows orders to dress in women's clothing and play the role of a devoted, grieving wife as part of an overarching theatrical illusion meant to trick a drunken peddler.