Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows

The quote "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows" is from Act 2, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." In this scene, Trinculo and Stephano, two of the shipwrecked characters on the island, are discussing their situation and the strange events that have unfolded since their arrival. Trinculo makes this observation about how their current state of misery has brought them together with unlikely companions.

This quote speaks to the idea that in times of hardship and suffering, people may find themselves forming alliances or relationships with individuals they would not have otherwise associated with. The characters of Trinculo and Stephano, for example, come from different backgrounds and social classes, but their shared experience of being stranded on the island has brought them together in a common cause.