Good and Evil Character Contrasts in The Tempest: How Antonio Acts a Perfect Foil for Gonzalo Avani Mittal 12th Grade

Opposing the inherent evilness in Antonio, Gonzalo proves to be the perfect foil for Antonio in the Tempest. Besides Miranda, Gonzalo is the only character in the play who is the epitome of all that is good and just, in contrast to Antonio, who is the vilest character in the play.

Antonio represents a rash but ambitious youth, who would do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He is willing to crush his conscience, having falsely learned that power cannot come to those who make their decisions and choices from the heart and not the head. The above is evident when he usurps his brother Prospero’s throne in cahoots with Propero’s nemesis, King Alonso, the king of Naples, and casts Miranda and his infant daughter out on the sea in a ‘rotten carcass of a boat'. He does not care about his own brother and niece and would go to extreme lengths to make sure he gets what he desires. His viscious nature again comes to the fore when he tries to instigate Sebastian to align with him and usurp King Alonso’s throne, stating that conscience should be ‘candied and melt ‘ere they molest.’ Antonio’s instigation and his brutal plans speak volumes of his inherent evil nature.

Gonzalo, on the other hand, is the most conscientious person in the...