The Tempest Boatswain Quotes

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.

– William Shakespeare

The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 1. The Boatswain tells the passengers, members of the nobility, that the roaring waves do not respect kings. He makes it clear that the fearsome storm is not going to calm down because Alonso, the King of Naples, is on board the ship. Caring little for the rank of the king, he orders the royal party below decks. This is something that they don’t like as they are used to giving the orders. The storm is a metaphor for a disturbance in the social order, and also for Prospero’s anger – he is responsible for the storm and bringing his enemies to his island. The reversal of the social order on the stricken ship, with the Boatswain telling the royal party what to do, also foreshadows the disruptions to and upheavens in the social hierarchies that are about to take place on the island.

GONZALO: Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
BOATSWAIN: None that I more love than myself. You are a counsellor; if you can command these elements to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more; use your authority: if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. [To mariners] Cheerly, good hearts! [To the courtiers] Out of our way, I say.

– William Shakespeare

The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 1. When the Duke of Milan’s advisor Gonazlo cautions the Boatswain to remember the importance of one of his passangers, King Alonso, the Boatswain is unmoved. Busy tring to save the ship, he tells the royal party to get out of his way.

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.

– William Shakespeare

The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 1. During the violent storm, the Duke of Milan’s advisor Gonzalo expresses confidence in the ship’s Boatstain, a crude and blasphemous fellow. Gonzalo says that his complexion marks him out as more of a candidate for hanging than drowning.

GONZALO: [To Alonso] O look, sir, look, here is more of us!
I prophesied if a gallows were on land
This fellow could not drown. [To Boatswain] Now, blasphemy,
That swear’st grace o’erboard, not an oath on the shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?

– William Shakespeare

The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1. Gonzalo cries out, as the ship’s Master and Boatswain enter, accompanied by Ariel. He reminds everyone that he had prophesied the Boatswain could not drown and he asks him what news does he have.

If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I’ld strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
And – how we know not – all clapp’d under hatches,
Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,
We were awaked; straightway, at liberty;
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good and gallant ship.

– William Shakespeare

The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1. The Boatswain tells what happened to the crew of the ship. They fell asleep below decks and woke to sounds of roaring, shrieking and clinking of chains. They found themselves free and were delighted to see the ship all ready to sail – all brought about by Prospero’s magic.
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