The Gondoliers: Or, The King of Barataria: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Gondoliers: Or, The King of Barataria" is a comic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan that explores themes of identity, love, and political absurdity through its vibrant cast of characters. Central to the narrative are Marco and Giuseppe Palmieri, gondoliers who embody republican ideals and find themselves in a peculiar position of potential kingship. They are in love with their wives, Gianetta and Tessa, yet are faced with a tangled web of royal lineage and mistaken identities. The Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro are portrayed as ambitious figures, with the Duke eager to elevate his status through his daughter Casilda's marriage to the royal heir of Barataria. Casilda, however, is deeply in love with Luiz, the Duke's attendant, who is ultimately revealed to be the true king.
The character of Don Alhambra del Bolero, the inquisitor, adds a layer of tension as he relentlessly seeks to uncover the true identity of the royal heir, resorting to dubious methods. The elderly nurse Inez plays a pivotal role in revealing crucial truths, thereby reuniting the rightful lovers and restoring order. Through its humorous plot and memorable characters, the operetta presents a satire of social structures and the arbitrary nature of authority, all while celebrating love and unity amidst chaos. This rich character tapestry invites audiences to reflect on the interplay of power and personal desire in a lighthearted context.
The Gondoliers: Or, The King of Barataria: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: W. S. Gilbert
First published: 1889
Genre: Play
Locale: Venice and Barataria
Plot: Comedy
Time: 1750
The Duke of Plaza-Toro, a grandee of Spain. The duke, who always led his regiment from behind, except when it retreated, is eager to place his daughter on the throne of Barataria and to feather his own nest as much as possible.
The duchess of Plaza-Toro, his formidable wife.
Casilda (kah-SEEL-dah), their daughter, married in infancy to the royal heir of Barataria. She is in love with Luiz.
Don Alhambra del Bolero (ahl-AHM-brah dehl boh-LEH-roh), the grand inquisitor of Spain. He is searching for the royal heir, whom he had stolen in infancy and left with a tippling gondolier to rear with his own son. The gondolier could not remember which of the two boys was his own son and which the prince. The Inquisitor decides to torture their former nurse to find out which is which.
Marco Palmieri (pahl-MEE-eh-ree) and Giuseppe Palmieri (jee-ew-SEHP-pee), gondoliers with republican principles. Each being half a king until the truth can be discovered, they promote everybody in the kingdom to a lord high something-or-other, to the inquisitor's disgust. They are separated from their recent brides and told that one is an unwitting bigamist.
Gianetta (jee-ahn-NAYT-tah) and Tessa, flower girls, wives of Marco and Giuseppe.
Luiz (lew-EES), Casilda's lover and the duke's attendant, who carries a drum to beat before the duke. He turns out to be the real king of Barataria.
Inez (ee-NEHS), an elderly nurse. She is readily persuaded by torture to confess that Luiz is the king of Barataria, for whom she had substituted her own son, actually the child stolen by the grand inquisitor. Her testimony reunites Luiz and Casilda and the gondoliers and their brides.