Key points
The Tempest is a play by English playwright William Shakespeare. It was first performed in 1611.
Ariel is a A type of magical creature. Ariel is a sprite. who lived on the island since before Prospero and Miranda arrived.
Ariel is Prospero’s servant - he helps him carry out tasks on the island, although Prospero promises to one day set him free.
Ariel stops a plot to kill Prospero and is finally set free at the end of the play.
Did you know?
Ariel is invisible to most of the characters except Prospero. When Prospero wants to talk to Ariel, he puts Miranda into a magical sleep.
Plot summary
Ariel’s key moments
Click through the slideshow to see Ariel’s key moments
Image caption, Ariel was imprisoned in a tree for 12 years by Caliban’s mother, Sycorax. When Prospero arrived on the island, he used his magic to release Ariel and made him his servant.
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Character traits
Supernatural
Ariel is a magical, musical creature who wants to win his freedom from Prospero. He can change his shape, become invisible and fly. In the cast list Ariel is described as an “airy spirit”.
Obedient
Ariel carries out all of the magical tasks that Prospero sets for him. Ariel’s child-like eagerness means he is sometimes played by a younger actor.
Trusting
Ariel trusts that Prospero will eventually set him free. Ariel works hard and usually without complaint, hoping that Prospero will stick to his vow.
Considerate
At the end of the play, Ariel encourages Prospero to show some kindness towards the king and his followers.
What magical powers does Ariel have?
Ariel’s magical powers give him the ability to:
Create the storm at the start of the play
Change into a harpy to scare some of the characters
Create mysterious music that sends some characters to sleep, makes some follow him and wakes others up
Create a masque performance for Miranda and Ferdinand and play the role of the goddess Ceres
Relationships
Prospero
Ariel’s master thinks highly of the spirit and is sad to part with him at the end of the play. Prospero seems to show affection towards Ariel, calling him “my fine spirit”.
However, Ariel is also Prospero’s servant. At one point in the play, Prospero is angry when Ariel asks to be set free and threatens him with imprisonment again.
Ariel doesn’t have a close relationship to other characters in the play and is often invisible to the other characters.
Did you know?
In Shakespeare’s day, people believed that sprites and fairies were real. It wouldn’t have seemed strange to include a sprite character to a Shakespearean audience.
Changes in character
At the start of the play, Ariel is Prospero’s servant. He has a child-like eagerness and does everything that Prospero tells him to do. He is brave enough to ask Prospero for his freedom, but when Prospero reacts angrily Ariel continues to obey him, hoping that Prospero will keep his promise to set him free after two more days.
By the end of the play, Ariel and Prospero’s relationship has changed. Ariel feels confident enough to offer Prospero advice and encourages him to become more forgiving. Prospero keeps his promise and sets Ariel free. Although Ariel is free he continues to be helpful to Prospero by keeping the winds calm for the other characters’ journey home.
Activity - Order it
What do these key quotations mean?
Since thou dost give me pains,
Let me remember thee what thou hast promised,
Which is not yet perform’d me.
Ariel
Act 1, scene 2
Ariel reminds Prospero that he has promised to set him free. These lines also suggest that Ariel is sometimes unhappy as Prospero’s servant.
You are three men of sin
Ariel
Act 3, scene 3
Ariel transforms into a harpy, a type of winged creature, and condemns Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian for their treatment of Prospero.
I come
To answer thy best pleasure, be ’t to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curled cloud.
Ariel
Act 1, scene 2
This quotation shows the range of Ariel’s magical skills.
Listen to a scene
We first meet Ariel in Act 1, scene 2. Listen to this audio clip, where Ariel has just reminded Prospero of his promise to set his servant free.
Prospero: If thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak
And peg thee in his knotty entrails till
Thou hast howled away twelve winters.
Ariel: Pardon, master.
I will be correspondent to command
And do my spiriting gently.
Prospero: Do so;
And after two days I will discharge thee.
Ariel: That’s my noble master! What shall I do?
Say what? What shall I do?
Prospero: Go make thyself
Like a nymph o’th’sea. Be subject to
No sight but thine and mine, invisible
To every eye-ball else. Go take this shape
And hither come in’t. Go! Hence with diligence.
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