Caliban and Ariel are two contrasting characters, not only by their personalities but by the way they are referred to and are treated by others.  Caliban is often portrayed as a rebel whilst Ariel seems to be the conformist.  Ariel is portrayed as mischievous and ubiquitous, able to cross the length of the island in an instant and to change shapes at will, he is Prospero's embodied imagination. He carries out virtually every task Prospero needs accomplished in the play.  Their very names contrast, Ariel meaning air, fire and possibly water, all the graceful elements an Elizabethan audience would be acutely aware that Caliban would possess elementary qualities of the earth and Ariel the celestial qualities of the air. Prospero reminds us that Ariel was "but air" he addresses Caliban as, "thou, earth, thou!"

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