# Gonzalo — The Tempest character guide

> Gonzalo in The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gonzalo Nay, Gonzalo Dolour, Gonzalo Sir, Gonzalo Faith, Gonzalo Good, Gonzalo Heavens

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

## Snapshot

The honest old counselor who once helped Prospero escape Naples, now cheerfully enduring shipwreck and the mockery of younger men.

## Who they are

Gonzalo is the loyal courtier who smuggled Prospero and Miranda out of Milan with provisions and books, and he spends the island scenes trying to comfort Alonso with talk of fresh garments and sweet air. Sebastian and Antonio make him their running joke, wagering on his speeches and calling him a spendthrift of his tongue, yet his stubborn optimism is the moral counterweight to their cynicism. His long fantasy of a commonwealth without labor or riches gives the play its clearest picture of what a good society might look like.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Gonzalo's optimistic loyalty to Alonso clashes with Sebastian's cynical ambition and plotting.

### [Alonso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/alonso)

_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)

_social_

Gonzalo remembers Miranda as a child from Milan and shows her kindness after the shipwreck.

### [Antonio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/antonio)

_rivalry_

Antonio mocks and dismisses Gonzalo's idealism, seeing him as a naive obstacle to ambition.

### [Adrian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/adrian)

_friendship_

Adrian and Gonzalo share a similar optimistic outlook, supporting each other's hopeful interpretations of the island.

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

_rivalry_

Gonzalo's optimistic loyalty to Alonso clashes with Sebastian's cynical ambition and plotting.

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

_rivalry_

Gonzalo's optimistic loyalty to Alonso clashes with Sebastian's cynical ambition and plotting.

### [Antonio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_tempest_se/characters/antonio)

_rivalry_

Antonio mocks and dismisses Gonzalo's idealism, seeing him as a naive obstacle to ambition.

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

_social_

Gonzalo remembers Miranda as a child from Milan and shows her kindness after the shipwreck.

## In the story

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

Attempts to calm the situation, humorously remarks on the Boatswain's seeming invulnerability to drowning, and wishes for dry land.

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

Mentioned as the noble Neapolitan who provided Prospero and Miranda with provisions and books.

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

An honest old counselor who tries to comfort Alonso and is later awakened by Ariel to prevent the assassination.

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

Tries to comfort Alonso and later fears the nobles' despair will lead to harm.

## Links

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