In an effort to capture the sense of spellbinding wonder which lies at the heart of this play and this character, I devised and designed a costume, soundscape, and monologue which I thought represented Ariel. I performed lines 1.2.189-193, 1.2.195-206, 1.2.208-214, and 5.1.88-94, which I felt captured his essence most accurately. In digital media, we have new and incredible artistic abilities which Shakespeare could never have dreamed of. With this piece, I attempted to play the magician, and utilize those abilities to portray the magic which he set on paper. I think that this added a lot to Ariel’s overall magical nature. However, being one person, I was not able to have Ariel interact with Prospero, or Miranda, or Caliban, or Alonso. Magic seems less magical if it is not contrasted with reality, so my Ariel lost a very important element of realism. Overall, I’ve gained a much better understanding of how difficult it is to portray otherworldly elements without making them seem forced, or too ridiculous. If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from this project, its that I highly recommend frolicking in your backyard, during a snow shower, while covered in ribbons and shells; I’m convinced there’s something magical about that in and of itself.
One of the elements of The Tempest which fascinates me the most is the freedom which Prospero has in manipulating his universe because of the magical abilities he possesses. While he was an incredibly powerful and influential sorcerer—he essentially set all the events of the play in motion, because he caused the shipwreck—he alone would be nothing without his spells. However, while he can channel and direct it, the power of the magic still ultimately remains external. In the epilogue, he acknowledges this, and says that “Now my charms are all o’erthrown / And what strength I have’s mine own / Which is most faint” (Shakespeare 6.1-3). If, as we discussed in class, Prospero can be thought of as a metaphor for the author, then the magic that Shakespeare is channeling can be thought of as the language, sound, and emotions which he puts forth on stage, and it is far more powerful than he is himself. For this project, I decided to focus on the character who I believe embodies the magic of the show, to a certain extent; Ariel. The music, movement, and language which he brings to the play will no doubt delight the audience, and although he is incredibly powerful, his mischievous yet obedient nature makes him likable and compelling. He serves as the link between the spirit world and the corporeal one, and thus is allowed to push the limits of what seems possible and impossible. Shakespeare has seemingly managed to create magic on stage, which in and of itself feels like sorcery.
In an effort to capture the sense of spellbinding wonder which lies at the heart of this play and this character, I devised and designed a costume, soundscape, and monologue which I thought represented Ariel. I performed lines 1.2.189-193, 1.2.195-206, 1.2.208-214, and 5.1.88-94, which I felt captured his essence most accurately. In digital media, we have new and incredible artistic abilities which Shakespeare could never have dreamed of. With this piece, I attempted to play the magician, and utilize those abilities to portray the magic which he set on paper. I think that this added a lot to Ariel’s overall magical nature. However, being one person, I was not able to have Ariel interact with Prospero, or Miranda, or Caliban, or Alonso. Magic seems less magical if it is not contrasted with reality, so my Ariel lost a very important element of realism. Overall, I’ve gained a much better understanding of how difficult it is to portray otherworldly elements without making them seem forced, or too ridiculous. If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from this project, its that I highly recommend frolicking in your backyard, during a snow shower, while covered in ribbons and shells; I’m convinced there’s something magical about that in and of itself.
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