With the crickets chattering amongst each other and the owls clamoring, I find myself perched on a pine tree. But this isn’t just any ordinary pine tree, it holds the memories of the most miserable time period of my life. Sycorax put me in chains, and she bounded me within its knotted heart. I remember the sharp pain of the wood against my back, my stomach would cry as the days passed by, and my hope of freedom slowly deteriorated. Although these are long gone in the past, the chains have never felt heavier now. |
You freed me from the pine tree, and I am eternally grateful for this. But now I find myself in a different kind of bondage, one that feels heavier than that of the tree. My service is the price of my freedom, a freedom I am not sure I will ever have. And when I seek clarification, I am simply forced to relive this trauma: “Dost thou forget from what a torment I did free thee?” “You malignant thing!” How am I supposed to respond? Of course I would never forget if you constantly remind me, guilt tripping me into serving you. I feel so insignificant, so helpless that I just want to cradle in the arms of someone. Maybe those cold, lifeless arms of that tree are better than your sickening presence.
As the night deepens, my thoughts wander to the promise of freedom. Could I ever truly be free, or was I destined to forever remain a servant to someone more powerful? Servitude is the only life I’ve known, so do I even know what it means to be free? The island, with all its external beauty and hidden sorrows, has become both my sanctuary and prison.
Despite the heaviness in my heart, I cannot deny this strange bond I’ve formed with you. It is this complex relationship defined by gratitude, loyalty, and shared destiny. You are also a prisoner in your own sense, exiled from dukedom and currently seeking retribution. You and I are both bound by circumstances beyond our control, and this has tied our fates in a way I could never have foreseen. Regardless of the burden that comes with servitude, I sense that we are connected by a symbiotic relationship: a companionship that transcends the simple bounds of master and servant.
As I gaze upon the island, I understand that my journey is still incomplete. I long for the freedom to dance upon the winds, unbound by the shackles of command and duty. Yet this desire is entangled with a sense of responsibility to you. Just as you've left your mark on my story, I have left my mark on yours. The question of whether my destiny is forever tied to you remains elusive, but the dawn brings its challenges I must conquer. For now, my heart flutters with the hope of what might be.
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Analysis:
I chose Option 5 of writing a short story from the perspective of Ariel from The Tempest. In this letter, Ariel directly addresses Prospero and explores themes of freedom and servitude. Ariel’s thoughts and emotions are never explored in the play, and I thought it would be interesting to explore how she might interpret her relationship with Prospero. In 1.2, Ariel seems to have conflicted feelings towards Prospero: “All hail, great master; grave sir, hail!” (1.2.189). This greeting reflects both respect and submission, showing her role as a servant bound to follow order. The short story expands on this dynamic, exploring her feelings on being controlled by Prospero. Prospero promised her freedom after servitude, but Ariel feels completely hopeless: she is unsure whether he will grant her freedom, and she feels as though she is a mere extension of his will. Furthermore, Prospero says to her in The Tempest, “Dost thou forget / From what a torment I did free thee?” (1.2.250-51). This highlights the emotional leverage that Prospero holds over her, as he continually reminds her of her terrible past to instill a sense of guilt and obligation. In the story, Ariel expresses how her “chains” linked to Prospero feel much heavier than the ones used by Sycorax. She wants to distance herself as much as possible, as she says she would rather be with the cold, lifeless arms of the pine tree than be in his presence.
However, Ariel also explains this unique relationship she developed with Prospero. Although Prospero is more favored in this case, I envision them as symbiotic organisms. Prospero needs Ariel for her magical abilities, and Ariel relies on Prospero for her freedom. This reminded me of “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, where the characters struggle to exist outside of the realm of the original play, Hamlet. In the story, Ariel is unsure of whether she truly wants freedom because she cannot function as a character without Prospero. Her identity has become so intertwined with Prospero that the concept of existing independently seems nearly impossible. After leaving their marks on each other’s stories, their destinies are eternally linked. The original Ariel from Shakespeare’s The Tempest is portrayed as an ethereal spirit. However, this adaptation gives her character emotional depth and allows us to explore conflicting feelings between her desire for freedom and a symbiotic relationship with Prospero.