Ariel is one of the main characters in William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. Considering that this character is not a person but a spirit, one should consider character traits and external features in revealing the character in the staged play. He is incredibly empathetic and quickly catches the eye, as he stands out with extreme empathy towards other characters.
In this case, this character should be shown in the form of an innocent child who has no evil intentions. Again, given that the surface is a spirit, it would make sense to leave him genderless and play around with his dialogue sometimes without the actor/actress being directly on stage. This character should be barely visible and yet be present in the final scene where he receives his freedom from Prospero.
The light and accompaniment of this character will play an important role. In Shakespeare’s play, Ariel always appears to music. In one of the scenes, he has to show the way to Ferdinand with his singing, giving clues and parting words to the latter about his father’s whereabouts. The light, in this case, should be as dim as possible, and the only light source should be the spotlights above the stage, which will especially emphasize the intangibility and invisibility of the character.
Also important is the costume and make-up of the actor or actress who will play the role of this hero. Its wings and body should be snow-white, shimmering in moments of golden hues. This will again give this character its inherent qualities, unlike other characters who rush from side to side, from good to evil, from evil to interest. Ariel is a highly positive character, which is why this choice will be justified and not cause additional questions from the viewer.
In conclusion, it is worth adding that the complexity of Ariel lies precisely in the transfer of its features. From the beginning of the first act to the end of the play, the viewer must understand when and how Ariel appears. Other actors must work in a unique way on their facial expressions and body language, creating the illusion of the presence of the spirit on stage when the actor or actress will not appear on the main stage.