Act 2 Scene 1

Question 1

Where is Act 2 Scene 1 staged?

Answer 1

A part of the island, away from the previous scene.

Question 2

Who are the people in the Scene?

Answer 2

Francisco, Antonio, Gonzalo, Alonso, Adrian, Sebastian

Question 3

How does the scene begin?

Answer 3

The scene begins with Gonzalo talking to Alonso, telling him there’s so much for him to be merry about - the escape of the royalty far supersedes any material loss they undertook.

He goes on to elaborate, saying every day, a sailor’s wife, the master of some merchant as well as the merchant himself undergo the same sorrow they feel.

But the important thing is that only a few in millions can say they escaped a shipwreck, so Alonso must see that they good outweighs the bad.

Question 4

What analogy does Sebastian use to describe Alonso’s mood?

Answer 4

Sebastian says Alonso receives comfort like cold porridge.

Question 5

How does Antonio respond to Sebastian?

Answer 5

Antonio has faith that Gonzalo will not give up on Alonso.

Question 6

How does Sebastian describe Gonzalo’s build-up to his advice?

Answer 6

Look. He’s like a clock winding up to
strike the hour

Question 7

When Gonzalo begins to speak, how does Sebastian interrupt him?

Answer 7

Sebastian says there he goes! Now we can tell
what time it is.

Question 8

How does Gonzalo’s piece of advice begin? How is it interrupted?

Answer 8

“When every grief is entertained that’s offered,
Comes to th’ entertainer—”

If we let every sad thing that happens to us get us
down, then we would find ourselves—

It is interrupted by Sebastian who takes “entertainer” to be a performer and says “A dollar”

Question 9

How does Gonzalo use the interruption to his advantage?

Answer 9

He used “dolour” instead of “dollar”

Pain, yes indeed. We would find ourselves in
pain. You thought you were being funny, but you said the truth.

Question 10

How do we know that is not what Sebastian meant?

Answer 10

You’re taking it more seriously than I meant it.

Question 11

What does Antonio tell Sebastian when Gonzalo continues talking?

Answer 11

Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his
tongue!

Question 12

What is the wager Antonio has between himself and Sebastian?

Answer 12

Antonio makes a bet with Sebastian saying

“Which of he(Gonzalo) or Adrian, for a good wager, first begins to crow?”

Which one will start yammering
first, Gonzalo or Adrian?

Sebastian says the “old cock”

So Antonio says the “cockerel”

The wager is a peal of laughter.

Question 13

Who won the wager, and why?

Answer 13

Antonio won since Adrian was the first to open his mouth once the bet was placed.

He celebrates his winning with a peal of laughter.

Question 14

How does Sebastian interrupt Adrian?

Answer 14

Sebastian says “Yet-“

And the very next line, Adrian says “Yet-“ too

Question 15

How does Adrian describe the island?

Answer 15

Adrian says,

Though the island seems to be desolate, it is mild and has a temperate climate. There seems to be fresh air available here too.

Question 16

What is a clear example of the pessimism displayed by Sebastian?

Answer 16

“A breath from rotten lungs, maybe.”

Question 17

How does Gonzalo describe the island?

Answer 17

This island contains everything beneficial to life. Look how lush and healthy the grass is! How green!

Question 18

How does Antonio interrupt him?

Answer 18

Everything except something to live on.

Question 19

What is Gonzalo most surprised by?

Answer 19

The rarity is our clothes were drenched with seawater, but they came out looking brand-new.

Seriously, I think our clothes are as fresh now as they were the day we put them on in Africa when we attended the marriage of the king’s daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.

Question 20

Who does Gonzalo compare Claribel to?

Answer 20

ADRIAN
Tunis has never had such a beautiful queen.
GONZALO
Not since widow Dido’s time.

Question 21

Who are Dido and Aeneas?

Answer 21

Dido killed herself when Aeneas left her. In this way, the two were never married - Dido was never a widow and Aeneas was never a widower.

Question 22

What happens after Antonio says, “What miracle will he work next?”

Answer 22

Sebastian says he thinks he’ll(Gonzalo) carry this island home in his pocket and give it to his son like an apple.

Antonio replies by saying Gonzalo will then throw the seeds in the sea, to make
more islands grow.

Question 23

What does Alonso’s emotional breakdown look like?

Answer 23

You keep cramming words into my ears that I
don’t want to hear. I wish that wedding had never
happened, since I lost my son because of it, and I
lost my daughter too in a way since she’s moved
so far from Milan that I’ll never see her again.—
Oh, dear son of mine and heir of Naples and
Milan, what strange fish has made a meal of you?

Question 24

What are Francisco’s only words in the scene?

Answer 24

Sir, he may still be alive. I saw him swimming
strongly, almost as if he was riding the waves. He trod water and kept his head well above the wild waters coming at him, swimming with his strong arms toward the shore, which almost seemed eager to welcome him. I have no doubt he got ashore alive.

Question 25

Who does Sebastian blame for the loss of Alonso’s son and daughter?

Answer 25

Sir, you can thank yourself for this great loss,
because you wouldn’t bless Europe with your
daughter, but instead pimped her out to an
African. At least you can be thankful that she
won’t be around to remind you of your loss.

Question 26

What was Sebastian’s explanation for why Alonso lost his daughter?

Answer 26

We all begged you not to go ahead with those
marriage plans, and your lovely daughter
struggled between disgust at marrying an African and the desire to obey you. Now I’m afraid we’ve lost your son forever. Our shipwreck has made more women widows in Milan and Naples than there are survivors to comfort them. And it’s all your fault.

Question 27

What does Gonzalo say he would do if he could colonize the island?

Answer 27

In my kingdom, I’d do everything differently from the way it’s usually done.
I wouldn’t allow any Commerce. There’d be no Officials or
administrators. There’d be no Schooling or
literature. There’d be no Riches, no poverty, and no servants—none. No Contracts or inheritance laws; no Division of the land into private farms, no Metal-working, agriculture, or vineyards. There’d be no work. Men would have nothing to do, and women also—but they’d be innocent and pure. There’d be no kingship—
(COS - RC - DM)
Everything would be produced without labor and would be shared by all. There’d be no treason, crimes, or weapons. Nature would produce its harvests in abundance, to feed my innocent people.

Question 28

How does Antonio introduce the proposition of a takeover?

Answer 28

Me neither. I’m wide awake. They all fell asleep together as if they’d planned it. Like they’d all been struck by lightning. What might happen, Sebastian, what might happen if—No, it’s time for me to shut up.— But still, I think I can see in your face what you ought to be. Opportunity’s knocking for you, and in my imagination, I see a crown dropping onto your head.