Among Adriana's detractors are Russ McDonald and E. C. Pettet; McDonald also finds little to praise in Luciana. McDonald assesses the value of the two women primarily as "comic troublemakers" and little else. Adriana's role is to doubt and become angry with her husband; Luciana's job is to attract Antipholus of Syracuse (whom Adriana believes is her husband) and make Adriana angry. Pettet, while finding virtuous and admirable qualities in Luciana, concludes that Adriana is little more than the stereotypical shrew. When comparing Adriana to Shakespeare's other heroines, Charles Brooks concludes that Adriana is a shrew, albeit an intelligent one with a strong will.

Robert Ornstein, to the contrary, finds much to praise in Adriana and argues that her "powerful indictment" of the Elizabethan double standard and jealousy are hardly shrewish. She holds the marriage vow as sacred and feels defiled by what she thinks is Antipholus...