H.M.S. Pinafore Synopsis

Quarterdeck of H.M.S. Pinafore off Portsmouth, 1878
Some time before Act I opens, Ralph has fallen in love with Josephine, the daughter of his commanding officer, Captain Corcoran. Likewise, Little Buttercup, a buxom peddler-woman, has fallen in love with the Captain. Class pride, however, stands in the way of the natural inclinations of both the Corcorans to reciprocate Ralph’s and Buttercup’s affections. The Captain has, in fact, been arranging a marriage between his daughter and Sir Joseph Porter, First of the Admiralty, who is of the social class above the Corcorans.

Act I
Morning
The sailors are merrily preparing the ship for Sir Joseph’s inspection. The generally happy atmosphere on deck is marred only by Little Buttercup’s hints of a dark secret she is hiding, by the misanthropic grumbling of Dick Deadeye, and by the love-lorn complaints of Ralph and Josephine. Sir Joseph appears, attended by a train of ladies (his relatives, who always follow him wherever he goes). He explains how he became Lord of the Admiralty and examines the crew and in a patronizing manner, encourages them to feel that they are everyone’s equal, except his. Like the Captain, he demands polite diction among the sailors at all times.

Josephine finds him insufferable; and, when Ralph again pleads his suit and finally threatens suicide, she agrees to elope. The act ends with the general rejoicing of the sailors at Ralph’s success; only Dick Deadeye croaks his warning that their hopes will be frustrated.

Act II
Night
The Captain is in despair at the demoralization of his crew and the coldness of his daughter towards Sir Joseph. Little Buttercup tries to comfort him, and prophesies a change in store. Sir Joseph soon appears and tells the Captain that Josephine has thoroughly discouraged him in his suit; he wishes to call the match off. The Captain suggests that perhaps his daughter feels herself inferior in social rank to Sir Joseph, and urges him to assure her that inequality of social rank should not be considered a barrier to marriage. This Sir Joseph does, not realizing that his words are as applicable to Josephine in relation to Ralph as they are to him in relation to Josephine. He thinks that she accepts him, when she is actually reaffirming her acceptance of Ralph; and they all join in a happy song.

Meanwhile Dick Deadeye has made his way to the Captain, and informs him of the planned elopement of his daughter with Ralph. The Captain then intercepts the elopers. Upon confronting the fleeing couple, he is so incensed that he cries, “Damme!” Unfortunately, Sir Joseph and his relatives hear him and are horrified at his swearing; Sir Joseph sends him to his cabin in disgrace. But when Sir Joseph also learns that Ralph and Josephine were eloping, he angrily orders Ralph to be put in irons.

Little Buttercup now comes out with her secret, which solves the whole difficulty. She confesses that many years ago she had charge of nursing and bringing up Ralph and the Captain when they were babies. Inadvertently, she got them mixed up; so the one who now is Ralph really should be the Captain and the one who is now Captain should be Ralph. This error is immediately rectified. The sudden reversal in the social status of Ralph and the Corcorans removes Sir Joseph as a suitor for Josephine’s hand and permits her to marry Ralph, and her father to marry Little Buttercup. Sir Joseph resigns himself to marrying his cousin, Hebe.