Gonzalo ( ) is a fictional character in

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's '' The Tempest''. An honest and trusted adviser to King Alonso of

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

, he has a good heart and an

optimistic Optimism is an attitude reflecting a belief or hope that the outcome of some specific endeavor, or outcomes in general, will be positive, favorable, and desirable. A common idiom used to illustrate optimism versus pessimism is a glass filled wi ...

outlook, and is described as noble. For example, when

Prospero Prospero ( ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of William Shakespeare's play '' The Tempest''. Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan, whose usurping brother, Antonio, had put him (with his three-year-old daughter, Miranda) to sea ...

and his daughter, Miranda, were set adrift at sea, Gonzalo took pity on them, supplying them not only with the food and water necessary to survive but also with those things that make life easier. In addition, Gonzalo is the only character able to see Caliban as more than a

demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, ani ...

ic beast. Gonzalo first arrives on Prospero's island with Alonso, Ferdinand, Sebastian, Antonio, Stephano, and Trinculo during a storm while returning from the wedding of Alonso’s daughter. During their time on the island, Gonzalo repeatedly attempts to lighten the mood by discussing the beauty of the island. An old, honest lord, he speaks cheerfully of the miracle of the reconciliation of the lords.The Tempest, Act V, scene 1 Many see Gonzalo as the

mouthpiece Mouthpiece may refer to: * The part of an object which comes near or in contact with one's mouth or nose during use ** Mouthpiece (smoking pipe) or cigarette holder ** Mouthpiece (telephone handset) ** Mouthpiece (woodwind), a component of a woodw ...

of the play, who mirrors Shakespeare's relativist beliefs. The role has been played by many actors.

Gonzalo, Prospero, and Miranda

Gonzalo was a nobleman from Naples. He had been chosen to carry out the plan to carry Prospero and Miranda to the sea and kill them there. However, instead of killing them, he gave them clothes, linen, and other necessities. Knowing how much Prospero cherished his books, he arranged for books from Prospero's library to be saved and available on the island.

Characters' Quotes about Gonzalo

PROSPERO: onzalohad given us out of the kindness of his heart. MIRANDA: I wish I could see that man onzalosomeday!.

References

Literary characters introduced in 1611 Male Shakespearean characters Characters in The Tempest Fictional Italian people in literature Fictional nobility {{lit-char-stub