8.1.6
Alonso
Alonso Character Summary
Alonso Character Summary
Alonso is King of Naples and head of the royal party that finds themselves on a ship in a treacherous tempest in Act 1, Scene 1.
Betrayal
Betrayal
- In Act 1, we find out about Alonso’s role in Prospero’s downfall.
- On an annual visit to Antonio, Alonso agreed to support a plan to draw up an army to march on Prospero and drive him out, allowing Antonio the room to move in as Duke of Milan.
- We also hear from Sebastian and Antonio that they were on the ship, returning from the wedding of Claribel, Alonso’s daughter, and an African Prince.
- It is suggested that this union was purely for political gain on Alonso’s behalf, quite similar to what Prospero does with his daughter Miranda.
Loss of his son
Loss of his son
- In Act 2, Alonso insists on 'mak[ing] further search / For my poor son' despite his obvious exhaustion from the trauma of the shipwreck.
- At the start of Act 2, he shows his grief: 'O thou mine heir / Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish / Hath made his meal on thee?'
- You could argue that Alonso is distraught purely because his 'heir' is apparently dead. But the fact that his thoughts seem suicidal - 'the best is past' and 'I wish / Myself were mudded in that oozy bed / Where my son lies' - imply that his distress is genuine as a father, not merely as a King.
Redemption
Redemption
- When faced with Ariel as a harpy and reminded of his crimes against Prospero, Alonso is evidently distraught, calling 'O it is monstrous, monstrous!'
- In Act 5, Alonso seems to be genuinely sorry for the wrong he did Prospero. His repentance results in him being forgiven. Prospero charges him: 'Most cruelly / Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter.'
- At this, Alonso asks for mercy, 'thou pardon me my wrongs' and reinstates Prospero as Duke of Milan.
Key Quotations - Alonso
Key Quotations - Alonso
Here are three key quotations that highlight aspects of Alonso's character:
'The name of Prosper'
'The name of Prosper'
- 'The name of Prosper. It did bass my trespass. / Therefore my son i' th' ooze is bedded, and / I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded, / And with him there lie mudded.'
- Alonso admits what he has done wrong - something that Sebastian and Antonio seem incapable of. Both Prospero and Alonso are much more self-aware.
'Thy dukedom I resign'
'Thy dukedom I resign'
- 'Thy dukedom I resign and do entreat / Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should / Prospero / Be living and be here?'
- Alonso is willing to seek forgiveness and admit his wrongdoings. He also seems a little clueless as he cannot understand how Prospero was exiled.
'A vision of the Island'
'A vision of the Island'
- 'If this prove / A vision of the Island, one dear son / Shall I twice lose.'
- It seems too good to be true that Ferdinand is not dead. Alonso is cautious that this all might be a trick of the island. It also shows how deeply he felt the loss of his son that he cannot bear to go through it again.
1Key Words
2Context & Overview
2.1Context & Overview
3Act 1
3.1Act 1 Analysis
4Act 2
4.1Act 2 Analysis
5Act 3
5.1Act 3 Analysis
6Act 4
6.1Act 4 Analysis
7Act 5
7.1Act 5 Analysis
8Key Characters
8.1Major Characters
8.2Minor Characters
9Themes
10Authorial Method
10.1Authorial Method
Jump to other topics
1Key Words
2Context & Overview
2.1Context & Overview
3Act 1
3.1Act 1 Analysis
4Act 2
4.1Act 2 Analysis
5Act 3
5.1Act 3 Analysis
6Act 4
6.1Act 4 Analysis
7Act 5
7.1Act 5 Analysis
8Key Characters
8.1Major Characters
8.2Minor Characters
9Themes
10Authorial Method
10.1Authorial Method
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