Ariel

Play

The Tempest

Summary

The airy spirit enslaved by the witch Sycorax and freed by Prospero, who serves him in exchange for the promise of liberty. Ariel performs every magical task — raising the storm, guiding Ferdinand, tormenting the conspirators, staging the masque — with tireless efficiency and artistry. His gentle reminder to Prospero that he himself would feel compassion for the suffering court is the play's most unexpected moral prompting. His final freedom is one of the play's most moving moments.

Notable Quotations

"Where the bee sucks, there suck I; / In a cowslip's bell I lie." *(V.i)*

"Full fathom five thy father lies; / Of his bones are coral made." *(I.ii)*

"Mine would, sir, were I human." *(V.i, on feeling compassion)*

Cross-references

• The Tempest — the play
• Romances (Late Plays)
• character_prospero — his master and the one who will free him
• character_caliban — his counterpart in bondage to Prospero