Gonzalo

English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest, topic 8.2.4

Gonzalo Character Summary

Gonzalo is a nobleman of Naples and serves King Alonso.

Gonzalo is portrayed as a good character.
When Prospero and Miranda were run out of Milan, Prospero recalls how this 'noble Neapolitan' showed them kindness and 'charity,' providing them with 'Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries.'
Without Gonzalo, one could question whether Prospero and Miranda would have survived. Although Gonzalo is only a minor character, he is a necessary component for Prospero and Miranda to have survived the past twelve years.

Gonzalo is presented as an overly optimistic character: 'I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him.'
It's likely that the audience would view Gonzalo as a good man, but one who should not be taken seriously.
When the King is depressed over the apparent loss of his son, Gonzalo commands him to 'be happy' and 'weigh, / Our sorrow with our comfort.'
Once again, this highlights Gonzalo’s optimism as he tries to cheer the King.

In Act 2, Scene 1, Gonzalo gives a speech about utopia.
He discusses the 'Golden Age' which is a term from Greek mythology which refers to an idealised time before work, money and law were invented.
Gonzalo says that his utopia would have 'no sovereignty' and there would be no 'riches, poverty.'
This would eradicate the social hierarchy the Jacobean society ran from and would receive applause and cheers from the groundlings. On the other hand, the nobility in the seated tiers would find it ridiculous.

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

'I' th' commonwealth I would by contraries / Execute all things; for no kind of traffic / Would I admit; no name of magistrate;'
- Gonzalo's speech is idealistic and hypocritical. He remains loyal to the king even when he's imagining an ideal world without kings.

'And on this couple drop a blessèd crown, / For it is you that have chalked forth the way / Which brought us hither.'
- Gonzalo imagines that Miranda and Ferdinand are destined by God and fate to be together, even though it was orchestrated by Prospero's magic. This asks the audience to question who is really in charge - is it fate or just Prospero's meddling?

'And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife / Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom / In a poor isle and all of us ourselves / When no man was his own.'
- On this isolated island, all of the conflicts of the court are resolved - Gonzalo wonders if they will remain once they return and the audience wonders why they could only be resolved on this distant island.