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Character analysis! Went through the script and made note of all the references to Ariel, and the names by which she is called.
The only other character I have direct interaction with is Prospero. All my other interactions are indirect, where I’m either invisible to the other characters (putting Gonzalo and Alonso to sleep, playing my tabour to lure Caliban, Sebastian, and Antonio), or in a different form (nymph/harpy/goddesses).
Prospero refers to me several times as a bird, and as a small creature - “delicate Ariel,” “spirit too delicate,” “my bird”, “dainty Ariel”, “chick” etc. This fits well with my initial reading of Ariel as child-like, small, and young. Ariel is a spirit so essentially ageless, but I like the idea of playing her a child with bird like qualities. The image of a sparrow comes to mind. - quick movements, lots of sharp little head turns. I need to better merge the idea of the fire spirit with the bird spirit...
Shakespeare gives us a lot of specific information about Ariel’s past. She has presumably always lived on the island. When Sycorax, a foul witch banished from Algier, was on the island she tried to make Ariel perform her evil commands. Ariel, being “a spirit too delicate” refused, and Sycorax trapped her within a tree. Sycorax died, and Ariel remained trapped in the tree for twelve years, howling and crying so that all animals could hear, until Prospero released her. Ariel then becomes Prospero’s servant, doing tasks on the promise that she will be released.
The questions that arise for me are:
Is it time for rehearsal yet?!
The only other character I have direct interaction with is Prospero. All my other interactions are indirect, where I’m either invisible to the other characters (putting Gonzalo and Alonso to sleep, playing my tabour to lure Caliban, Sebastian, and Antonio), or in a different form (nymph/harpy/goddesses).
Prospero refers to me several times as a bird, and as a small creature - “delicate Ariel,” “spirit too delicate,” “my bird”, “dainty Ariel”, “chick” etc. This fits well with my initial reading of Ariel as child-like, small, and young. Ariel is a spirit so essentially ageless, but I like the idea of playing her a child with bird like qualities. The image of a sparrow comes to mind. - quick movements, lots of sharp little head turns. I need to better merge the idea of the fire spirit with the bird spirit...
Shakespeare gives us a lot of specific information about Ariel’s past. She has presumably always lived on the island. When Sycorax, a foul witch banished from Algier, was on the island she tried to make Ariel perform her evil commands. Ariel, being “a spirit too delicate” refused, and Sycorax trapped her within a tree. Sycorax died, and Ariel remained trapped in the tree for twelve years, howling and crying so that all animals could hear, until Prospero released her. Ariel then becomes Prospero’s servant, doing tasks on the promise that she will be released.
The questions that arise for me are:
- Why did Prospero not release Ariel straight away? I presume that Prospero recognizes Ariel’s power, and needs Ariel in order to become the enlightened magus. Interestingly, it is through Ariel that Prospero gains compassion for Alonso/Gonzalo et al. and chooses forgiveness over revenge - if Ariel, a little spirit, can develop compassion, why not a “wise” being like Prospero?
- Why do academics think Prospero is benevolent? I am utterly confused by this. If Prospero is so good, why doesn’t she release Ariel straight away? Because drama, because we need Ariel for the story... it’s a play. But still.
Is it time for rehearsal yet?!
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