# Alonso — The Tempest character guide

> Alonso in The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Alonso Old lord, Alonso Good boatswain, Alonso Prithee

**First appearance:** 0000-the-tempest

## Snapshot

The grieving King of Naples, who believes his son Ferdinand drowned in the storm and now wanders the island half-hopeless.

## Who they are

Alonso arrives on the island as a father hollowed out by loss, having just married his daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis before the sea took his son. He tries to command the boatswain during the tempest and is told the sea cares nothing for the name of king, a rebuke that shadows his grief. His despair makes him vulnerable to Antonio and Sebastian's whispered plots, and his slow search for Ferdinand keeps the court party moving through the middle of the play.

## Relationships

### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/sebastian)

_family_

Alonso is Sebastian's brother and king, but Sebastian conspires to murder him for the throne.

### [Gonzalo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/gonzalo)

_friendship_

Gonzalo is Alonso's loyal counselor, offering comfort and hope during the king's grief over Ferdinand.

### [Miranda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/miranda)

_family_

Alonso is Miranda's uncle, though she does not recognize him until the final revelation.

### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/sebastian)

_family_

Alonso is Sebastian's brother and king, but Sebastian conspires to murder him for the throne.

### [Miranda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/miranda)

_family_

Alonso is Miranda's uncle, though she does not recognize him until the final revelation.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

The king, anxious about the storm, asks the Boatswain to have care and later prays with the prince.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

King of Naples, grieving the apparent loss of his son Ferdinand, and weary from the journey.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Exhausted and hopeless, he mourns Ferdinand and is accused by Ariel of his past sins.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Reunited with Ferdinand and expresses joy and remorse.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/alonso
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters