In William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Gonzalo is one of the few passengers on the tempest-tossed ship that hasn't in some way offended Prospero.
As the play opens, Gonzalo is an advisor to King Alonso, as he has been for the past twelve or more years. In act 1,...
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scene 2, Prospero tells his daughter, Miranda, that when he was Duke of Milan, his dukedom was usurped by his brother, Antonio, with the help of King Alonso, and Gonzalo was charged with putting Prospero and Miranda out to sea in a leaky boat.
PROSPERO. A rotten carcass of a butt, not rigged,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast—the very rats
Instinctively have quit it. (1.2.171-173)
Prospero says that Gonzalo took pity on them, and gave them provisions to help them survive their forced voyage until they found land.
PROSPERO. By Providence divine.
Some food we had, and some fresh water, that
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
Out of his charity,—who being then appointed
Master of this design,—did give us; with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much; so, of his
gentleness
Knowing I loved my books, he furnished me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom. (1.2.187-197)
Gonzalo is steadfast and optimistic throughout the play. During the tempest, Gonzalo intercedes between the sailors and the passengers who are afraid of drowning and interfering with the sailors' efforts to keep the ship afloat. Once safely ashore, Gonzalo encourages the shipwrecked passengers to be happy for being alive and for finding their way safely to shore.
Gonzalo praises and encourages the others, even though they sometimes mock him.
GONZALO. You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the
moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five
weeks without changing. (2.1.199-201)
When Prospero releases all the shipwrecked passengers from his magic spells, he singles out Gonzalo first of all.
PROSPERO. Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine,
Fall fellowly drops. ...O good Gonzalo,
My true preserver, and a loyal sir
To him you follow'st! I will pay thy graces
Home both in word and deed. (5.1.68-77)
Towards the end of the play, Shakespeare gives Gonzalo the opportunity to sum up the major events and meaning of the play.
GONZALO. Was Milan [Prospero] thrust from Milan, that his issue [Miranda]
Should become kings [and queens] of Naples? O rejoice
Beyond a common joy! And set it down
With gold on lasting pillars: in one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis,
And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife
Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom
In a poor isle; and all of ourselves,
When no man was his own. (5.1.238-246)