Henry Fuseli's Ariel
This famous depiction of Ariel paints him and his connection with nature as a foreboding force. Riding on a bat, an animal with overwhelmingly dark connotations, Ariel's presence over the unsuspecting humans makes him a much more terrifying figure than the text alone might suggest.
A puppetry production
This representation of Ariel, taken from a puppetry performance of The Tempest, shows his form as very strange and inhuman, drawing out themes of his "other-ness" and connection with a natural world. The idea of Ariel as a puppet is interesting in itself, as it explores the struggle for control and freedom present throughout The Tempest.
Kate Newlyn's sculpture of Ariel
Rather than focusing on Ariel's otherness, this sculpture seems to celebrate him as graceful and magestic in a specifically human way. While this does not negate his connection with the magical -- the suggestion of flowing fabric gives the statue movement and charm -- it does suggest that the source of the magic is not far removed from humanity in its wild, natural state.
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