• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

&quot; Ariel is a mischievous sprit, but is rather that one character that holds the Tempest together&quot; discuss the importance of the character Ariel in the play.

Extracts from this document...


Sean Jones English Coursework The Tempest Essay Ariel is an airy spirit in 'The Tempest'. Who Yearns for freedom and provides a somewhat atmospheric presence to the play. I am going to look at the way she adjusts her persona to different characters and the effect she has on those characters. Looking at the different areas of the play she is involved I will pick out certain things of significance and elaborate on them. The Structure of the play is almost dependent on Ariel. It begins as one solid story, the disaster, and then it splits and disperses into three separate play genres; Love; comedy; and revenge. Ariel is the glue that holds these three together. She ties them together, making the story easier to follow. In the end she unites all characters to reveal one solid play. Think a diamond shape when thinking of the tempests' structure. Also the ending of the play would not be as effective. She gives the play closure, she is the one who, conveniently, resurrects the Tempest, and returns everything to normal. Also her Liberty at the end helps with that closure and provides a sense of relief for the audience. Shakespeare has ignited such a character as a useful ingredient he can use in other plays. If you take, for example, the character 'PUK' from 'a midsummer night's dream'; Puck is like Ariel in many ways, in that a fairy with similar characteristics. ...read more.


Ariel exits and later in the Scene returns 'Fine apparition, my quaint Ariel, Harken thine ear.'(1ii lines 316-317) Prospero has now cooled off and talks to Ariel with the respect she deserves. He whispers into her ear a secret command. The to me symbolises a growing band of friendship between the two. And, as we don't know what Prospero whispered, we take more interest in Ariel, to find out what it is. Ariel exits and returns later in the act (lines 375-404) with two songs. This a communication medium for her, and a powerful one, it is hypnotic, and draws Ferdinand to the island. Music seems to be a substitute for her visibility. The first song is celebrating the calming of the Tempest, the verse. ' Kissed, the waves whist' is an invitation to dance in the sands. Her second song is directly addressed to Ferdinand. Comforting him after his father's death. This particular line stands out 'A sea change/into something rich and strange' She is reassuring the grieving son, and telling him not to think his father as dead, but undergone a wonderful transformation after death. At the end of this act she reassures Prospero that the secret task has been done to 'th'sylable' and is promised freedom in return for these services. Ariel now takes a back seat up until Act 3. Where her mischievous side which I hinted upon earlier is shone out in a comic way. ...read more.


This will give he upper-class more of the reason to stay and watch the play and mix with yobs, as it gives them something to reach out to, a sort of 'ha ha I know what that means and you don't' sort of thing. When casting a spell Ariel speaks I rhyme to divide the magical element from her usual speech. This gives the pay that magical effect, and creates a beat, which subconsciously will lift the audience. Repetition of the words 'Hark' and ' Bow- wow' make them stand out. And the echoing of these words creates an atmospheric feeling. Ariel is overall I this play, a character who signifies Freedom. Although this is restricted throughout the play, it causes hostility that is always there, up and down throughout. This hostile element makes for a better ending. I that Ariel's Liberty, gives the audience a sigh of relief, and leaves them with a warm feeling inside. Without her paranormal presence and rhyming ways the play would be flat and uninteresting. Without a character like Ariel I such a play. Who cements and provides a pillar for all three story lines. The walls that build the play would crumble, crash down, and crush the sustained interest of the audience. Shakespeare has proved himself once again to be a genius in play writing; like we never knew that already. It is very rare that a writer can conjure up such a play that appeals to such a wide variety of people. There is something for everyone. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text


Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related GCSE The Tempest essays

  1. Marked by a teacher

    Prospero is a powerful character. What impression does the audience get of Prospero in ...

    4 star(s)

    Caliban tells Prospero "you taught me language, and my profit on't is I know how to curse". However, although Caliban can argue with Prospero, he eventually bows to his power, saying "I must obey; his art is of such power".

  2. Prospero and Miranda's relationship in the Tempest is a strongly bonded one.

    much to do so, or could just be because she is cared what her father would do to her if she did lose her virginity. The next time we meet Ferdinand again, is after he "hast strangely stood the test," and now Prospero has " given you here a third of mine own life."


    and sailors, also the arguments that seem to be brewing between the nobles as they compete for power in a situation where social statuses are unimportant. In the stage directions it says, "Enter Mariners wet". In this context the sea could be used to symbolise the idea of holy water in baptism, suggesting a new start.

  2. The Change in Prospero's Character.

    This warrants Shakespeare with the ability to engender a poignant and heart-rending dialogue, in which Prospero sees irrevocably, the superfluous concept of dictating people through magic; "Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, One of their kind, that relish all


    Antonio is the brother of Prospero; he took Prospero's title from him when Prospero trusted him to manage his affairs. Having replaced his brother, he now encourages Sebastian to do the same to his brother. Gonzalo is an honest old counsellor.


    met; this has transformed her idea of men and has given her a vision that she now applies to all mankind. And so, her reaction is one of revelation and interest, yet she remains shy and reserved. When he first arrives he is forced to do manual work by Prospero

  1. Explore the dramatic impact of the tempest scene in Act 1, Scene 1 in ...

    unless the character is obviously looks the part, which is why Shakespeare has done this. Sebastian and Antonio are the only really unpleasant people. They curse the Boatswain openly: Sebastian: "A pox o'your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog." When the Boatswain retorts that they should try and help instead


    Antonio began to feed off of the power given to him by Prospero and did not want it to be taken away again. He believed that he was a better Duke than Prospero and wanted to be "absolute Milan." and so he arranged for the removal of Prospero and his daughter Miranda.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work