66 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



humor, courage, and yet a dear appreciation of the peril in which the ship stood. 

 After the re-entrances of the boatswain and of the nobles, Gonzalo composes a quar- 

 relsome dialogue by a few words; Antonio and the boatswain are softened by his 

 mild, jocular humor. 



Gonzalo, when the fate of the ship appears imminent, recommends that all 

 join the King at prayers; but before going he makes two more speeches, both show- 

 ing humor and remarkable calmness of spirit. One may generalize these simple 

 facts into the more comprehensive fact, that in a time of great peril, which shook 

 the souls of some of the characters, Gonzalo appeared cool, kindly, sympathetic, 

 unselfish and humorous; and that in spite of a clear grasp of the terror of the situa- 

 tion, he preserved, without noticeable efifort, an admirable magnanimity, serenity, 

 and composure of soul, suggesting great inward resources of some kind, with which 

 to face circumstances trying to the bravest of men. 



In the first scene of Act II Gonzalo appears again. He begins the dialogue by 

 a speech of nine lines, in which he endeavors to make the best of things. He ofifers 

 commonplace consolations, which are badly taken by the others, yet he persists 

 in talking, and in a sense achieves his kindly purpose, inasmuch as he forces his 

 companions to talk. He is mercilessly chaffed by Antonio and Sebastian, weakly 

 supported by Adrian and snubbed by the King. After enduring this with unshaken 

 good humor, and some wit in retort, for a while, he makes a sketch of an ideal com- 

 monwealth which he would Hke to establish on the island. This commonwealth 

 shows his great good-will toward men and his love of purity and innocence, but 

 is illogical and impracticable, and represents aspirations rather than serious thoughts, 

 as Gonzalo soon admits by his joining in the ridicule of it. Still, though he calls it 

 merry fooling, it does show that he had dreams or ideals on the subject of social 

 well-being, and in a very humane and benevolent way. Under the influence of 

 solemn music played by Ariel he quickly falls asleep. Immediately ensues the 

 conscienceless conspiracy of Antonio and Sebastian involving the life of Gonzalo 

 as well as of the King. It is in Gonzalo's ear that Ariel sings his summons to watch- 

 fulness, and the old Minister awakes, thinking only of his Master. He is not de- 

 ceived by the story of the conspirators but confines his criticism to the somewhat 

 wry expression, "Heavens keep him (Ferdinand) from these beasts" His con- 

 cluding words, " For he is, sure, i' the island," are a mixture of prophetic faith and 

 kindly optimism. 



The facts of this scene extend our knowledge of Gonzalo. He is not only se- 

 rene, kindly, courageous, humorous, but broadly benevolent, self-controlled, and 

 devotedly trustworthy. He is conscious of his merry fooling, and talks garrulously 

 only to serve some kind purpose. His intellectual humility is free from mean- 

 ness or envy, and he accepts his position with a genuine belief that simple faithful- 

 ness cannot be despised. That he is not despised is evinced by the fact that he is 

 hated by the conspirators. 



