Sebastian

English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest, topic 8.2.3

Sebastian Character Summary

Sebastian is the brother of King Alonso and friend of Antonio.

Sebastian is one of the 'three men of sin' involved in Prospero's downfall.
Sebastian is introduced as a rude character by how he addresses the boatswain - 'A pox o’ your throat,/ you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!'.

Sebastian is quite easily influenced by Antonio.
In Act 2, Sebastian succumbs to Antonio’s encouragement to kill King Alonso and become King himself. Although his 'conscience' does cause some conflict. Nonetheless, he commits to the regicidal plan: 'Thy case, dear friend, / Shall be my precedent; as thou go’st Milan, / I’ll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke / Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest; / And I the King shall love thee.'

Unlike Antonio, Sebastian shows some humanity in the final act as he celebrates the return of Ferdinand: 'a most high miracle!' But he is not repentant for his wrongdoings to Prospero and Miranda.
Like Antonio, he does not show any remorse or ask for forgiveness. He instead accuses Prospero of being possessed by the devil: 'The devil speaks in him!'
Despite this, Prospero forgives anyway, working to heighten the negative characteristics of Sebastian.

Here are three key quotations that highlight aspects of Sebastian's character:

'Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss, / That would not bless our Europe with your daughter, / But rather lose her to an African, / Where she at least is banished from your eye, / Who hath cause to wet the grief on 't.'
- Sebastian tells Alonso to get over the death of his son as if it was nothing. This highlights his lack of empathy. He also blames Alonso for his own son's death.

'A living drollery! Now I will believe / That there are unicorns, that in Arabia / There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix / At this hour reigning there.'
- One vision has been proved true and Sebastian doesn't know what to believe. This gullibility highlights how easily Sebastian could be persuaded by the lies of Antonio.