Question

Gonzalo: I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning-mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast
good Fate, to his hanging! make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage! If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable.

(i) Who is this fellow referred to in the extract? Why does Gonzalo have great comfort from him?


answer this question with respect to the tempest written by Shakespeare ​

Answer 1

Answer:

(i)   The person being referred to in this extract is Boatswain.

Boatswain is a character in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" who appears not more than twice in the play. His job is to run the ship during the tempest. He is a senior crew member, who overseas the deck crew, manages the ship's lines and sails, and the anchors

(II) Gonzalo happens to be is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's Play. A counselor to the King. From the play, it is clear that Boatswain had hurt his pride:

First by ignoring his question about the where about of the king twice.

Second, by speaking to him in a derogatory manner regardless of his position. Botswain had asked him to use his political powers which at that time was useless against the storm to save them or get out of the way. He was practically ordered to get back into his Cabin. See this excerpt:

Boatswain

   When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers

   for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.

So, Gonzalo with a lot of hurt but care for his own life retreats into his cabin below the deck as he does so wishes that Boatswain will save the ship so that everyone is saved including himself but moreso that he will have the opportunity to hang him when the ship got to land.

So Gonzalo derives great comfort for two reasons:

1. because based on his estimation of the situation, the ship will not sink under the administration of Boatswain because he is an expert at what he does. He actually prays to Fate to ensure that he does not sink the ship.
2. If the ship will not sink, then he (Gonzalo) will have the opportunity to mete out the punishment which he strongly wanted for Boatswain for his insolence and derogatory manners towards him.

See the part where he prays to Fate to ensure that the Boatswain is successful in his enterprise:

"Standfast good Fate, to his hanging! make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage. If he be not born to be hanged, our case if miserable.  

If there was a chance that the ship will sink, that meant that he would have to die

1. horribly along with Boatswain by drowning
2. without a chance to redeem his pride.

Cheers!