Ariel

Test yourself

Ariel Character Summary

Ariel is a magical spirit enslaved to Prospero.

Ariel and Prospero

Ariel's name suggests the spirit of the air and he can consequently be seen ‘flying’ across the stage in an ethereal way.
In some supernatural texts, the name ‘Ariel’ means messenger between earth and the spirit world. If Prospero is viewed as God-like in this play, Ariel brings messages from him to the royal party in an effort to achieve justice.
Prospero uses Ariel as a tool to do his bidding and promises to give him his freedom if these are completed.
Without Ariel, Prospero is powerless.

Another one of Prospero's puppets

Ariel could be yet another puppet in Prospero’s master plan to regain his earthly position of power in Milan.
Ariel has to remind Prospero that he deserves his freedom: 'Remember I have done thee worthy service;/ Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, serv’d/ Without grudge or grumblings.'
This was his payment for Prospero saving him from his imprisonment in a tree by the 'foul witch Sycorax'.

Ariel as a saviour

Ariel is responsible for the melodies that echo around the island that draws key characters together at key points.
For example, in Act 1, Scene 2, Ferdinand hears the magical music that draws him to Miranda. In Act 2, Scene 1, Ariel uses 'solemn music' to send most of the royal party to sleep, giving Antonio and Sebastian the opportunity to discuss the assassination of Alonso and Gonzalo, revealing their true natures.
Once the audience is aware of their evil natures, Ariel reappears on stage in time to wake Gonzalo before any blood is shed.

Ariel Character Summary

Ariel is a magical spirit enslaved to Prospero.

Ariel and revenge

Finally, Ariel’s most important scene comes in Act 3, Scene 3 in the harpy scene.
Ariel casts an illusion of a fine banquet for the ravenous royal party to the tune of 'solemn and strange music' before making it disappear and reappearing himself as a half-woman, half-bird monster.
Ariel gives a long speech to the 'three men of sin' (Antonio, Sebastian and Alonso), reminding them that they did “supplant” Prospero and banished him and his daughter unfairly.

Ariel loves Prospero

Although Ariel is enslaved to Prospero, he does seem to take some pleasure in the work he undertakes: '…I come / To answer thy best pleasure; be’t to fly, / To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride / On the curl’d clouds, to thy strong bidding task / Ariel and all his quality.'
Ariel willingly appeases Prospero and is happy and eager to serve quickly and report back any news, such as Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo’s plot to murder him.

Prospero love Ariel

Ariel's attitude toward Prospero is in stark contrast to Caliban's.
Prospero treats Ariel very differently to Caliban, referring to him as 'my dainty 'Ariel,' 'my bird' and 'My Ariel, chick.'
Prospero uses quite distasteful words when talking to Caliban, highlighting his hatred for Caliban who he views as a burden, but it also highlights his awareness of the power Ariel enables him to have.

Key Quotations - Ariel

Here are three key quotations that highlight aspects of Ariel's character:

'Told thee no lies'

'Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served / Without or grudge or grumblings. Thou didst promise / To bate me a full year.'
- Ariel is desperate for his freedom, but Prospero refuses to free him until all of his goals have been achieved. He doesn't respect Ariel.

'All hail, great master!

'All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail! I come / To answer thy best pleasure.'
- Ariel is endlessly loyal to Prospero, but never seems to be truly rewarded for it.

'Your charm so strongly works'

'Your charm so strongly works / 'em / That if you now beheld them, your affections / Would become tender.'
- Ariel advises Prospero to forgive, highlighting his sweet and empathetic nature, despite the way the Prospero has treated him.

1Key Words

1.1Key Words

1.1.1Key Words 1

1.1.2Key Words 2

1.1.3Key Words 3

1.1.4Key Words 4

2Context & Overview

2.1Context & Overview

2.1.1Overview

2.1.2Context

3Act 1

3.1Act 1 Analysis

3.1.1Overview

3.1.2Scene 1

3.1.3Scene 2

4Act 2

4.1Act 2 Analysis

4.1.1Overview

4.1.2Scene 1

4.1.3Scene 2

5Act 3

5.1Act 3 Analysis

5.1.1Overview

5.1.2Scene 1

5.1.3Scene 2

5.1.4Scene 3

6Act 4

6.1Act 4 Analysis

6.1.1Overview

6.1.2Scene 1

7Act 5

7.1Act 5 Analysis

7.1.1Overview

7.1.2Scene 1

7.1.3The Epilogue

8Key Characters

8.1Major Characters

8.1.1Prospero

8.1.2Miranda

8.1.3Caliban

8.1.4Ariel

8.1.5Ferdinand

8.1.6Alonso

8.2Minor Characters

8.2.1Antonio

8.2.2Stephano

8.2.3Sebastian

8.2.4Gonzalo

8.2.5Trinculo

9Themes

9.1Major Themes

9.1.1Power

9.1.2Magic

9.1.3Status, Race & Pronouns

9.1.4Comedy

9.1.5Freedom vs Servitude

9.1.6Revenge

10Authorial Method

10.1Authorial Method

10.1.1Genre & Time

10.1.2Music & Illusion

Jump to other topics