Ariel's Enchanting Eye Hue: The Color You've Been Wondering About

Ariel is a captivating character from William Shakespeare's "The Tempest", often associated with vivid, enchanting imagery. One striking detail about her is her eyes, which are repeatedly mentioned throughout the play. But what is the color of Ariel's eyes? Shakespeare doesn't explicitly state this, leaving it to our interpretation.

Shakespeare uses Ariel as a magical spirit, causing her to be often visualized as ethereal and otherworldly. Her eyes, much like her, are described using metaphors and implications rather than direct descriptions. Let's explore the textual cues that hint at the color of Ariel's eyes.

Metaphors and Imagery

Ariel's appearance is likened to various natural phenomena and mythical creatures, which can provide clues about her eyes. She is portrayed as a spirit of fire (The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2), a Diana-like nymph (Act 3, Scene 3), and even compared to a mineral, the "precious stone" (ibid.).

These comparisons suggest a sparkle or brilliance in her eyes, but they don't specify a color. However, they do paint a picture of something striking and unique, much like jewels or fire.

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In Act 1, Scene 2, Ariel sings a song with the lines, "Where the *[Evil] spirits hold their unsocial hours:/There invisible spirits walk unseen...". Some texts present "Evil" as "Evilence" or even "Evilence" with a macron, indicating a possible pronunciation of 'Evil-pe-nce-ah' or 'Evil-pe-

While many interpret this as a name or a place, others suggest it could reference a color, akin to 'orange' or 'ochre'. If so, this could hint at a warm, earthy color for Ariel's eyes. However, this interpretation is not universally accepted and remains speculative.

Blue Eyes from the Sea?

Ariel is associated with the sea and water throughout the play. She is described as "a spirit of the air" in Act 1, Scene 2, and her song in Act 1, Scene 2 includes the line, "Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears." Some interpret this as Ariel being surrounded by water, as humpback whales produce "twanging" sounds underwater.

If Ariel is connected to the sea and water, it's not a stretch to imagine her having eyes that reflect the deep blue of the ocean. However, this is another interpretation that is not definitively supported by the text.

Interpretations: From Sparkling to Blue

Various stage and screen productions have depicted Ariel's eyes in different colors. Some portray her with sparkling eyes, reflecting her ethereal nature, while others depict her with blue eyes to emphasize her aquatic connection. Others choose colors based purely on aesthetic preferences.

Ultimately, the color of Ariel's eyes is left to our imagination, as Shakespeare deliberately leaves this detail open to interpretation. As viewers and readers, we can choose to see Ariel's eyes in a way that resonates most with our understanding of her character and the play's themes.

So, while we may never know the exact color of Ariel's eyes, the dwelling on this detail thickens the atmosphere of intrigue and mystique around her character. And isn't that part of the enchantment of Shakespeare - leaving bits and pieces to our vivid imagination?