And like schoolboys, Antonio and Sebastian are capable of cruelty, as when they tell Alonso that had he not married his daughter to the African, they would not be on this journey and Ferdinand would not be drowned. The two are reminiscent of schoolboys, who giggle and whisper in the back of a classroom, in defiance of their teacher. They justly point out the flaws in Gonzalo's utopian dream, but they go beyond pointing out the flaws to compete between themselves to see who can devise the cruelest ridicule of both Alonso and Gonzalo. Their sarcastic asides counter Gonzalo's good humor. In contrast, Antonio and Sebastian's characters are developing as unpleasant and arrogant. On the surface he appears happy with his situation, but his dreams of being king reveal that he is not completely satisfied with his lot in life. Gonzalo's outlook is positive in many ways, but his utopian dream indicates that there is a complexity to his personality. He is thankful that they have landed on such a lovely island, and he remains hopeful that Ferdinand has survived. He alone realizes that their survival of the storm is an achievement.
In spite of his dreams of personal grandeur, Gonzalo is capable of seeing the positive aspects of their situation. Gonzalo wants the authority that Alonso holds, since Gonzalo would be king in this visionary world, but he lacks the impetus to put his dreams into actions, as Antonio and Sebastian would do. In short, the source of many of the conflicts that exist in English society would be eliminated. Thus, there would be no aristocracy and no country estates. In Gonzalo's vision, there would be no inherited wealth, and land would not be enclosed. This vision reveals that Gonzalo, too, has some concerns about authority and privilege. Nature would simply create all that men needed. No one would grow food, and no one would work. There would be no commerce or law and no servant class. Beyond the efforts to comfort and reassure his king, Gonzalo relates a vision of a utopian society. Gonzalo's character is also realized in more depth than in Act I, where his attention was focused on the storm and on the boatswain's insolence. Alonso says little, but Gonzalo's efforts to care for and cheer his king, and the efforts of Adrian and Francisco to comfort their king, reflect well on Alonso's character. But now, the picture is that of a grief-stricken father, beyond comfort. In Act I, Prospero's tale of Alonso's complicity in his personal tragedy created an image of an uncaring ruler, one who was willing to overlook Antonio's deceit as long as it was beneficial to the king. Alonso's first thought is for his son's well-being. This act better defines the personalities of the king's party and more clearly establishes the good characters from the bad. Alonso is easily convinced of his brother's sincerity, and the scene ends with the royal party leaving the stage in search of Ferdinand. Antonio and Sebastian quickly concoct a story to explain their drawn swords, warning of great noise, as if from bulls or lions. He awakens Gonzalo in time to prevent the murders. Sebastian needs little convincing, and with Antonio, the two draw their swords and advance on the sleeping king and his party.Īt this moment, Ariel takes action. Although Sebastian has some concerns of conscience, Antonio dismisses such worries and urges action while everyone is asleep. Left awake, Antonio and Sebastian devise a plot in which Sebastian will seize his brother's crown, much as Antonio had years earlier seized his brother's title and property. These are harsh words to the grieving father, and Gonzalo gently chastises Sebastian for his insensitivity.Īriel now enters, unseen by the group on stage, and puts all of them to sleep, except for Sebastian and Antonio. In short, Ferdinand would still be alive if Alonso had acted properly. Sebastian tells Alonso that, had he not permitted the marriage, the royal party would not have been at sea and, thus, never in the storm. Instead, they tell Alonso that he should not have permitted his daughter to marry the African. When Antonio and Sebastian join the general conversation around the king, they make no attempt to soothe him. In the meantime, Antonio and Sebastian whisper among themselves and belittle both Alonso's grief and Gonzalo's cheer.
Gonzalo begins with a speech celebrating their survival of the storm and their relative safety on the island, but King Alonso cannot be cheered because he is sure that his missing son, Ferdinand, has drowned. This scene opens with all the passengers from the ship, except for Ferdinand, gathered on stage.
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