Many a supernatural character has been created by Shakespeare and other playwrights, but Ariel is unmatched. Unlike most supernatural characters, Ariel possesses many human qualities like love for freedom, gratitude, sympathy, desire for praise, dedication to his master and faculty of mischief. When examined deeply, two aspects of his character makes him intriguing. These are his latent faculty of mischief and his sincere devotion towards his master Prospero.

Ariel cannot give full exercise to his faculty of mischief because he is not an independent agent like Shakespeare’s ‘Puck’ in ‘A Midsummer Nights’ Dream’. But Ariel’s playful nature with which he performs those duties enables him to practise his powers upon beings such as Stephano and Trinculo. The scene in which he successfully plants a discard among Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban is full of excellent befooling. The manner in which he gives an account of it to Prospero, shows that he enjoyed the fun of this foolery. There are many instances when Ariel successfully amuses the reader or the audience when the play is read or enacted.

Ariel is an ardent lover of freedom, yet he is bound to Prospero by a feeling of sincere devotion towards him. He performs those tasks and duties punctually and promptly which are imposed upon him by his master. Except for a single occasion, when he shows impatience with Prospero for assigning him so many tasks and postponing his liberation. Throughout the play he shows total devotion to his master Prospero which is very rarely found in supernatural.

Thus, we can say that, Ariel is most sincere in his devotion towards his master though he is quite mischievous and playful, yet he is true and not an exaggeration.