Captain Shakespeare

"How can we ever repay this kindness?" "Ah, don't mention it. Seriously, don't mention it...you know reputations, lifetimes to build, seconds to destroy."

- Captain Shakespeare assuring Tristan

Captain Shakespeare is the captain of a sky vessel, Caspartine, in the Stardust film adaption, portrayed by Robert De Niro. He never appeared in the Stardust novel and was recreated from the character, Captain Johannes Alberic.

Childhood
The only son of the legendary Captain Ghostmaker, he dreamed of England, the world across the Wall, but was bound to become a notorious pirate because of his heritage. After visiting England secretly, he became a Captain, taking the name 'Shakespeare', after the legendary British wordsmith.

Movie
One day, whilst illegally using his vessel to collect lightning, Shakespeare caught Tristan Thorn and Yvaine in his nets. To keep up his reputation, Shakespeare acted as a violent interrogator, who threw Tristan out of the porthole for insolence.

However, unbeknownst to his crew, Shakespeare was acting as host to the two hitchhikers after Tristan had stated that he was from England. The Captain revealed to them that he was, in fact, a cross-dresser who abhorred violence. He promised to drop the two off near the wall as soon as possible.

After stopping off to sell lightning to dodgy dealer Ferdy the Fence, Shakespeare introduced Tristan (who had been hiding in his cabin) to the crew as his 'fearsome buccaneer nephew'. The Captain played the host perfectly, teaching Tristan to fence and Yvaine to waltz, during which time he revealed that he knew Yvaine was in fact, a fallen star.

At the end of the journey, Shakespeare gave Tristan a container full of lightning as well as some whispered advice, before preparing to depart.

Before the vessel managed to depart, it was set upon by Prince Septimus and his men, who had killed Ferdy the Fence and were on the trail of Yvaine, who carried (unknowingly) the royal ruby of Stormhold. The men were killed, taking a large amount of Shakespeare's crew with them, but not before Septimus had discovered the Captain, dressed in a pink dress and feather boa, twirling around his cabin.

The crew saw off the Prince, before revealing to their distraught Captain that they 'always knew you were a whoopsie'. Shakespeare later attended the coronation wedding of Yvaine to King Tristan, who he had told that his true love was right in front of his eyes.

Book
In the novel, Captain Johannes Alberic is the captain of the Free Ship, Perdita. He is described as a friendly pirate captain as opposed to his movie counterpart. He rescued Tristran and Yvaine, who were stranded on the clouds and has one of his crew members heal Yvaine's leg while he informs Tristran that he is part of the fellowship that seeks Tristran's return to Wall.

Captain Alberic allows Tristran and Yvaine to stay on his ship without any issues until they made port. Captain Alberic gave Tristran the supplies he needed to make his journey to Wall.

Tristan Thorn
In the book, Captain Alberic acted like a mentor to Tristan Thorn. Telling him of what is going on in the world and that he is part of a Fellowship that seek his return to Wall. In the movie, Captain Shakespeare first was hostile to Tristan and Yvaine, then made a secret friendship when he found out that Tristan came from England, a place that Captain Shakespeare dreamt of seeing. After fooling his crew, Captain Shakespeare helped give Tristan a new look, so he would be accepted into the crew. Captain Shakespeare became a mentor/friend as he taught Tristan how to fence and, when they were leaving the ship to make their way to Wall, Captain Shakespeare told him that his true love is what is in front of him. Captain Shakespeare later attended to the coronation of Tristan and Yvaine as rulers of Stormhold.

Yvaine
In the book, Captain Alberic showed a friendly attitude as he rescued Tristan and Yvaine, then he has one of his crew mates to attend Yvaine's leg. In the movie, Captain Shakespeare acted like a mentor/friend to Yvaine as he taught her how to play piano and to dance. While they were waltzing, Captain Shakespeare tells her that he knows what she is, and informs her that she must keep ker emotions under control as Yvaine is shining. He later attended the coronation of Tristran and Yvaine as rulers of Stormhold.

Appearances

 * Stardust novel (as Captain Johannas Alberic)
 * Stardust film (as Captain Shakespeare)

Trivia

 * In the film adaptation, Captain Shakespeare is played by Robert De Niro.