ARIEL: THE

TEMPEST

By Ganeev Kaur
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 Ariel is no average man, he is a spirit of the world. Despite his many powers and abilities, he is a servant to Prospero. He is adept
at his service, and obedient to his master. A puppet is to a ventriloquist as Ariel is to Prospero. He longs for freedom, and awaits
the day he can be a spirit of the world. He is a fluid, shape shifting creature, with no concrete gender. He acts as an orchestrator for
Prospero’s schemes throughout the play. For example, Prospero would not have been able to connect with the nobles if Ariel had
not generated the Tempest for him. Hence, the play’s plot would be nonexistent without Ariel’s coordination. Without Ariel’s
efforts, the story would simply be about a boat that goes from point A to point B. Ariel does not communicate with many
characters throughout the play, as he is only visible to Prospero. He mostly speaks to him as a master, and there is no affection in
their relationship. He does not really talk to any other characters unless ordered to. For instance, when Prospero orders Ariel to
scare the nobles, or lure Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban by singing.
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 The Tempest
Movie (2010)
In this Oscar nominated film, Ariel is played by Ben
Whishaw. He is portrayed as a young teenage boy, who
wears minimal clothing, and has a pasty, white
complexion.
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 Depiction & Analysis
This scene occurs in the beginning of the movie, after Ariel asks for his freedom, and argues that they deserve
liberty, as they have executed Prospero’s orders to a T. It essentially introduces the characters to Ariel and
Prospero’s relationship by providing a backstory on past (how they were stuck in a tree), and shedding light on
how Prospero manipulates them. Prospero almost acts a as foil for Ariel in this scene. As she guilt trips Ariel,
and confronts them about forgetting all the she has done for them, Ariel’s voice begins to shake, and their eyes
widen. They avoid eye contact with Prospero, and look down the whole time. This portrays how uncomfortable
Ariel is in Prospero’s presence, and their naiveness,humility and instant submission contrasts with Prospero’s
cunning, egoistic, and megalomaniac nature. Furthermore, the appearance of the characters greatly differs as
well. Ariel is played by a young teenage boy, with a paper-white complexion and is wearing no clothing.
Prospero is played by an old woman, wearing a long, dark blue ensemble.
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 The Tempest RSC
Production(1998)
In this version, Ariel is Scott Handy. He is portrayed as a
middle aged man, who wears minimal clothing, and has a
pure white complexion. In the image, he is seen in tucking
his knees into his chest, and placing his arms on his collar
bone. He appears to be crying out in pain.
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 Depiction & Analysis
In this image, Ariel appears to be in a state of distress. The way He tucks his knees into his chest, and
places his hands on his collarbone, shows how he is trapped within himself . Ariel is more powerful than
Prospero, and deserves to be free, however the his own weakness, and inability to stand up for himself
leaves him trapped. He cries out in pain, screaming with torment. Ariel's white skin tone and minimal
clothing are representations of his spiritual role and otherworldliness. White has traditionally been linked to
spirituality, innocence, and pureness; this signifies that Ariel is a morally upright person. Ariel's lack of
attire stands for his liberation from the physical limitations of the human realm. It conveys that Ariel is
unrestricted by the standards of modesty and decorum that apply to most people.
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 The Tempest (2013,
Shakespeare’s world)
In this version, Ariel is played by Colin Morgan. In this
live performance, he is portrayed as a young boy, wearing
a feather like top, beige and green skirt, and fawn boots.
He has pink makeup around his eyes, and his hair is
slicked back.
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 Depiction & Analysis
This portrayal conveys the same scene as the first portrayal, but does so differently. This version is more comedic, and conveys
Ariel and Prospero almost as father and son. It is evident that Ariel is confident within himself, and believes firmly that he
should be free. He openly expresses his desire to do so, and when Prospero confronts him about forgetting all that he has done
for him, Ariel hesitantly agrees, almost in an attempt to avoid the lecture. He seems irritated by Prospero rather than
uncomfortable or scared. Prospero is almost portrayed as a insane man, with his hobo like attire, and untamed hair. This makes
him appear less fearful in comparison to Ariel, and does not create a distant hierarchy where Ariel is below Prospero.
Throughout the clip, Ariel’s posture is straight, and his voice is strong. In the first few seconds of the scene, he boldly yells at
Prospero asking for his, “liberty!” The feather esque costume portrays Ariel as a spirit of nature, making him appear as almost a
bird. The pink eye makeup, and purple color of the top shows his androgynous side, making him appear slightly feminine.
Overall, he is conveyed as a strong-willed, teenage boy, who simply wants to get out of the chores Prospero gives him.
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 The third interpretation puts a spin on the power dynamic between Prospero and Ariel in the Tempest. Traditionally, Prospero is a powerful,
controlling figure, who shadows of Ariel, and treats him like an ant. Ariel is normally a humble, submissive character, that obeys every
order with sincerity, and carries a meek attitude. However, in this version, Ariel is shown as a relatively strong-willed being, that advocates
for himself, and confidently asks for the freedom he deserves. His assertive voice and straight posture convey his certainty and conviction,
and his bird-esque costume portrays him as a spirit of nature rather than a mere servant of Prospero. On the other hand, prospero is shown
as a mad man, and his scheming and plotting makes him appear obsessive and insane to the audience. His unkempt, hobo-like appearance,
contrasts with the neatness, and fashionable wardrobe of Ariel, making him appear less powerful and intimidating. Prospero is almost like a
father-figure in the scene, and Ariel comes across as a child negotiating to get out of chores. This further diverges from the classic king and
peasant dynamic between Ariel and Prospero. All in all, this portrayal gives Ariel more of an upper hand in his relationship with Prospero,
and makes Prospero seem less authoritative and imposing.
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 The first interpretation ranks best in aesthetics. First off, the film is directed by Julie taymor, who is known for her impressive and creative
works. Taymor perfectly encapsulates the magical and supernatural components of the play with her use of vivid colors, rich costumes, and
exquisite sets. Furthermore, the film’s music is composed by Elliot Goldenthal, and creates as an amazing ambience for the movie. For
example, in the scene, as Ariel becomes nervous, drums begin to beat, imitating his fast paced heart beat. This puts the reader in Ariel’s
shoes, and conveys his anxiety. Additionally, the CGI effects in the film play a big role in its artistic quality. Ariel’s body appears
transparent, giving him a fluid, spirit-like essence. None of the other portrayals were able to achieve this. Moreover, in the clip provided,
Prospero guilt trips Ariel, and reminds him of how he freed him when he was stuck in tree. Ariel then recalls this painful time, and the room
around him transforms as his face morphs into a tree, and he feels the pain he did in his past. The CGI effects allow the viewers to be
transported into Ariel’s thoughts, and bring the play to life. Evidently, this portrayal does the most aesthetic justice the Tempest.
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 Each Portrayal of Shakespeare’s timeless play, the Tempest, has its one flavor and charm. In the first portrayal, Ariel is shown as gullible and
obedient, while Prospero is conveyed as schmeing, and manipulative. This viewpoint can be a reflection of a cultural ideal that values
deference to and servitude to authority figures. On the other hand, the second portrayal proposes a different perspective, showcasing a woeful
Ariel, that is trapped by his inability to advocate for himself. This version highlights the significance of freedom, and independence, showing
the disconsolate state of Ariel when chained to Prospero. The third portrayal presents a confident, strong-willed , teenage Ariel, that stands up
for himself, and fights for his liberty. This stance can be a reflection of a cultural value placed on self-expression and understanding one’s
own worth. Furthermore, the androgynous look of Ariel with the feminine makeup and wardrobe on a male actor challenges quintessential
norms bringing about a progressive cultural viewpoint. Perhaps a different perspective could be one in which Ariel is a villainous spirit, that
uses his magic to rebel against Prospero and rise up. This would be more on play with the ideology of fairies during Shakespeare’s time, as
they were considered to be evil creatures. This outlook could be a reflection of a personal conviction regarding the value of questioning
authority and battling repressive regimes. Alternatively, Ariel could be a satisfied servant of Prospero, and be a spirit that is contented in
servitude. This perspective could display cultural values of loyalty and duty to superiors. In a nutshell, The Tempest is an evergreen tale, and
each interpretation has its own magic. These interpretations each signify different perspectives and values, that can be shown by changing
aspects of the characters personality, costume, and demeanour.
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