[1] Drawn from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, in which Ariel represents the positive, and Caliban represents the negative tendencies in human nature, this essay is a debate on the future course of history, in what Rodó intended to be a secular sermon to Latin American youth, championing the cause of the classical western tradition.
[2] Ariel belongs to the movement known as modernismo, characterized by its elegance, artistic prose, and worldly references and allusions.
The opposite of Ariel is the utilitarian, symbolized by Caliban, and he cites positivismo and nordomanía as two reasons why this movement has gained popularity.
In order for Latin America to revive its spirit, Rodó proposed strict adherence to the aesthetic ideals of the Ancient Greek and Roman cultures.
He believed both of these embody a sense of beauty, and most important, both realms recognize the significance of devoting oneself to an activity of the mind.