Towards the beginning of the play, Prospero has a conversation with Miranda regarding how they came to the … ( Log Out / As a spirit of air, Ariel highlights the shifting nature of gender as it was perceived during the period — as such, Ariel is a figure who awakens anxiety about what counts as male/female and masculine/feminine, and what this means for the period’s legal and social systems. Perhaps she is attempting to show that gender is not a natural form of power but rather a constructed performative? The delicate traits, breasts and hair of a woman, as well as Ariels demeanor in the movie represents that of a feminine character. Change ). The tricky aspect of Ariel’s key role in the play is his/her gender. Both he and Prospero utilize their power outside of the physical world to achieve what they desire; after all, if this were the case, this confirms the social hierarchy of gender that the men vastly overpower Miranda, the only female on the island. These The Tempest sculptures by Toby Bell describe Ariel in different ways that aren’t explicitly in Shakespeare’s original text, and I find the ambiguity of Ariel’s gender especially impactful. Her chastity was kept by Prospero, despite fertility being so valued as you mentioned. In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero and Sycorax are extreme ends in the spectrums of power and gender. In the many adaptations of Shakespeare’s play, Ariel is depicted as both a man and a woman. This further empowers not just Ariel as an individual but women in general; though they seem suppressed, they have the strength (or, even more) to overcome what ties them down. However, through your post, I was able to realize the potential flexibility of Ariel’s gender and how that may be significant in different contexts. Ariel in "The Tempest" is only gendered twice, as described below: A stage direction refers to Ariel with the male pronoun: "Thunder and lightning. Prospero first encountered Ariel soon after landing on the island. A call for Increased Sensitivity When Analyzing Ruins, The Undeniable Force of Nature in “The Revenant”, Why Human Agency Alone is Not Responsible for the Rise and Fall of the Inca, The Influence of Gender: Ariel and “The Tempest”. I never really thought about Ariel’s gender when I was reading The Tempest and always assumed Ariel to be male. He sent Ariel, his spirit servant, to cause the shipwreck and disperse certain people around the island. I found this claim thought provoking. Ariel is somewhat gender neutral, although I believe he is most often portrayed by a man. Web. On the other hand, he also assumes the form of a sea nymph and a harpy- both creatures being exclusively female. Though gender is so important in shaping Ariel’s character, why did Bell not sculpt a genderless Ariel, an Ariel 3, to describe the ‘otherness’ that comes with being a spirit? This blog post is incredibly interesting! The representation of a feminine character coincides with qualities of equalizing and embraceing oneself, directly in contrast to a more dominant and therefore masculine approach. Analyzing Empire and the Origins of its Failures. The ideas of patriarchal and gender power are illustrated extensively in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' through the relationships portrayed in the play, and the play's symbolic depiction of colonialism. If Ariel in Shakespeare’s play was indeed female and was infertile, then what does it mean for all Ariel represents? Did Bell want to humanize Ariel? These decisions of gender influence the interpretation of characters and their interrelations, therefore creating a strong presence in production choices. If Ariel were a female, Ariel becomes, in a sense, a form of empowerment for women, as she is able to achieve feats that Prospero cannot accomplish himself. Or, perhaps, the wings add to a female’s protective and caring persona. However, the pair both cross boundaries within their gender that blur the lines of being man and woman. Ariel as a female: graceful and proud, but passive and sexualized. You had said that “the suppression of women by males exists not just on a physical plane, but also on a social one” about the two female statues because that for one, spirits cannot be pregnant and also that pregnancy was a socially valued state during Shakespeare’s time. Swedenborg, E. “Wings.” BibleMeanings. In today’s society, wings symbolize freedom. Looking closely at this image from Taymor’s film, Ariel does appear to look like a woman, or that of a man with feminine features. I find it kind of odd how the wings were given to the female representation but not the male, given that the female version is symbolically more oppressed. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy; claps his wings upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes.”, “All hail, great master! N.p., 2002. The spirit of Ariel is a notable character in Shakespeare’s, The Tempest. However, Cesaire’s Ariel is unique in that he follows Prospero’s orders, but criticizes them at the same time, begging not to have to carry out certain actions. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy; claps his wings upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes." ( Log Out / http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/ariel-male-female-genderless-spirit-2835. Ariel as a male: strong and assertive, but also rough and greedy. It's perhaps notabl… grave sir, hail! Many of today’s critics view Prospero as an aggressive upholder of patriarchal and colonial power. ( Log Out / Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I really enjoyed reading this post and I am looking forward to your final one! Ariels character as a whole can be interpreted on a multitude of levels. After female players were introduced in the mid-1600s, a female actor would embody Ariel. Carrillo De Albornoz, M. A., and M. A. Fernandez. During the discussion of the maternal and caring aspects of a female Ariel, I was reminded on Cesaire’s version of Ariel. In The Tempest, gender is only one opposing force between Prospero and Sycorax. Using a female in the theatrical version of The Tempest opens the … In this way, Cesaire’s Ariel reconciles the idea of freedom and oppression being intertwined in Winged Ariel 1. The suggestion of likeness in difference is especially noticeable in the case of the two strange servants of Prospero, Caliban and Ariel, one an airy sprite, the other an earthy monster. Gender combines with race to determine the degree of power each person holds. Reading Shakespeare’s The Tempest, I found Ariel’s gender ambiguity quite interesting. Both women, subjected to male domination, shows just how unjust and poorly women are treated in a gendered society. The casting helps us recognize a new form of patriarchal power and implications of structure through the work it serves. He/She is Prospero’s servant and carries out his every need, influencing the course of the story tremendously. This further adds to her maternal, pregnant image, emphasizing that Ariel should not be defined by the actions Prospero forced on her. This website’s purpose is to connect and interpret various aspects of the Humanities Core curriculum. First and foremost, 'The Tempest' was written in the Jacobean period - a period where society was still most strongly patriarchal. He/She is Prospero’s servant and carries out his every need, influencing the course of the story tremendously. In Egyptian culture, wings symbolizes protection or regeneration (Carrillo). This is done through challenging questions and personal anecdotes that draw new conclusions toward heightened perspectives of the material. Does Gandhi Believe in the Inherent Goodness of Man? There is a clear divide between genders within The Tempest.This is most evident in the relationship between Miranda and her father Prospero. However, through your post, I was able to realize the potential flexibility of Ariel’s gender and how that may be significant in different contexts. The question of Ariel's gender - assuming he has one - is left ambiguous in the text and has been subject to considerable debate. To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride Academia. Male pronouns are used twice in Act 1 Scene 2: “Thunder and lightning. “People read Ariel's gender in a variety of ways.” In Julie Taymor’s 2000 film adaption of The Tempest, Ariel is played by Ben Whishaw, a male actor who was portrayed with female breasts in scenes when the sprite was ordered to take the form of a woman. Although ultimately obedient to Prospero, Cesaire’s Ariel finds freedom in voicing his opinion against certain orders and in the promise of future freedom. Though Ariel would still be subservient to Prospero, I think the fact that Ariel does all the work is enough to successfully break down the walls of gender hierarchy. But what about Miranda? This reminds me of my essay on the adaptations we were tasked with writing where I chose an animation where Ariel was feminized. On the curl’d clouds; to thy strong bidding Based off this suggested masculinity, the reader is able to understand the pair in such a way. There, Ariel is shown as nonviolent, choosing instead to follow Prospero rather than outright defying him as Caliban does. From this exchange, we find out that Prospero was the one who conjured up the storm. Edward Said, I have some questions for you. In return, Ariel promised to serve Prospero faithfully for a year, after which time Prospero would give Ariel back his freedom.
Body Power Deluxe Rack Cage System Academy, Girl Scout Cookies Strain Australia, Two Handed Activities For Toddlers, Roman Legionary Armor For Sale, The Bug Lady, 2009 Mustang Gt Nada Value, Amazon Music For Artists App, Coyote Recipes Forum,