How did George Frideric Handel portray characters through arias?

George Frideric Handel possessed a remarkable ability to depict human character musically within a single scene or aria, a gift he employed with great dramatic power throughout his operas and oratorios.1

While he worked within the established conventions of his time—such as the use of recitatives to advance the plot and arias to allow characters to reflect on the action—Handel did not observe these formal conventions rigidly. Instead, he utilized his outstanding writing for the solo voice, characterized by its suitability for the medium and an unerring melodic line, to illustrate the heroism and suffering of individuals.21

In his operas, such as Giulio Cesare and Alcina, this approach allowed moments of intense dramatic power to burst through the formal grandeur of the Baroque style. Similarly, in his oratorios, he used solo arias to illustrate specific dramatic themes and character depth, effectively bringing the stories to life through music.1