Belinda

Belinda is the central character in the poem. She is a beautiful young woman, who is very conscious of her own appearance. She is especially characterized by her locks of perfectly curled hair, which make her the object of envy and admiration. At the beginning of the poem, she is a virgin and seems disinterested in men. However, she is a rather frivolous, vain person who is motivated more by admiration for her beauty than by genuine virtue. Belinda is based on Arabella Fermor, to whom the poem is dedicated.

Ariel

Ariel is a sylph, a magical spirit, whose duty is to protect Belinda. He is named after a character in Shakespeare's The Tempest. Ariel is invisible and has an unclear degree of magical power. Certainly he is able to influence Belinda's dreams, and he has a number of other magical beings who are in service to him...