In The Tempest, Ariel is a spirit with magical powers who plays the role of Prospero's obedient servant. Ariel demonstrates a range of magical abilities, and Prospero relies on him to execute a series of complex tasks in order to get revenge on King Alonso and Antonio for banishing him and Miranda from Milan. In act 1, scene 2, Ariel returns from shipwrecking the king and his court and informs Prospero of his success. Ariel tells Prospero that he scattered the king's court throughout the island, and Alonso's son Ferdinand is in a faraway nook by himself.

After completing his first task and sharing the good news, Ariel discusses earning his freedom from Prospero, who promised to remove a year from Ariel's period of servitude if he completed several tasks. Prospero then reminds Ariel of why he is indebted to him and describes their earliest interactions. According to Prospero, Ariel was once the servant of an evil witch named Sycorax, who imprisoned him in a "cloven pine" after he refused to carry out one of her wicked commands.

Sycorax died before freeing Ariel, and he had been imprisoned in the pine for twelve years when Prospero arrived on the island. Prospero discovered that Ariel was stuck inside the tree and used his powerful magic to free him. After releasing Ariel, Prospero employed him as his servant for an extended period of time and promised to free him after he completed several difficult tasks.