Prometheus Bound Essay

During the time of Euripides, approximately the second half of the fifth century B.C., it was a period of immense cultural crisis and political convulsion (Arrowsmith 350). Euripides, like many other of his contemporaries, used the whole machinery of the theater as a way of thinking about their world (Arrowsmith 349). His interest in particular was the analysis of culture and relationship between culture and the individual. Euripides used his characters as a function to shape the ideas of the play (Arrowsmith 359).

Zeus’ affinity for being the main character of a myth is no different in the epic myth about his fight against Cronus and the Titans or the “Titanomachy.” In this larger-than-life battle Zeus has to overthrow his father Cronus and take his predestined place as king of the gods. In this myth however, Zeus has to grow and overcome many challenges that stand in his way to greatness. Zeus has to ask for help from his mother in order to be able to free his sibling from his father Cronus who had swallowed them whole. After Zeus frees his siblings he has to face the mighty Titans, so he asks the Cyclops and the Hecatonchires to aid him in this battle that lasts

everyone knows how insecure Zeus can get, it is just a bad move on his part. After all if god is all powerful he cannot be all good and should he be all good, he is not all powerful. Frankenstein proved to be “all powerful” but in escaping his problems is not all good. Meanwhile, Prometheus proves to be “all good” to man, yet is powerless to the power of Zeus and his love for man.

The manner in which Hesiod presents Zeus’s thoughts regarding his interaction with Prometheus help to provide us with a better understanding of Zeus’s characteristics. Lines 530-531 of Theogony, which describe the eventual freedom of Prometheus, stipulate that this came “not without the will of Zeus,” enhancing the efficacy of Zeus’s ultimate power. Hesiod had previously mentioned Zeus’s intelligence, but he delves more deeply into this attribute in examining the conflict at Mekone between Zeus and Prometheus. “Zeus, eternally wise, recognized the fraud and began to rumble in his heart trouble for mortals, and it would be fulfilled.” (Hesiod 552-55). Here, Hesiod’s audience begins to understand Zeus as an extremely wise, but vengeful god, an image which agrees with Homer’s Iliadic Zeus, and all other accounts of the god in ancient Greek literature. Hesiod goes on, however, to extend

In ancient Greek Myths, the description of Zeus’ character can range from a heroic leader to that of a vile dictator, depending on the author’s intention. This contrast is especially noteworthy when comparing Hesiod’s Theogony with Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, as Zeus is presented as the world’s protector in the former, while he is portrayed as selfish and ruthless in Aeschylus’ tale.

Prometheus is a figure in Greek epics who has been viewed through different lenses, according to the beliefs of the writer. While Aeschylus represented Prometheus as godly with human attributes, a saviour of man, Hesiod sees him as a troublemaker who is far from a hero. Ovid speaks of Prometheus only in the passing, saying he is the ‘creator of men’, however he does seem to revere the demigod ( ). Prometheus is the most prominent in ‘Prometheus Bound’, as he speaks directly to the reader. His expression of frustration at being bound makes him seem more human, but his acts and his refusal to go back on his actions are the attributes of a hero.

The story of Prometheus shows us that a struggle for power can have good or bad consequences. An element in the myth of Prometheus is the Origins of Life . A quote to support this element is “ With fire Man made weapons,defied the frost and cold ,made tools and money, introduced the arts, and was able to destroy as well as create.” This quote is related because with fire man was advance however, fire had downfalls. Prometheus also helped humans but for that he had to play the consequences, for his actions, “ Zeus chained Prometheus to the top of a mountain, and every day an eagle came and ate Prometheus liver.

Did Mary Shelley initially title her work about Victor Frankenstein and his creation The Modern Prometheus solely because of the glaring similarities between their stories? That is a question that is often discussed, but a conclusion rarely arrives. One of the possible reasons for this could be because there are many different interpretations of the Promethean myth, which are mainly based on the ambiguous nature of the story. The parallels between the Promethean myth and Frankenstein are obvious, and that, in combination with her subtitle, The Modern Prometheus, indicates that Mary Shelley did have the myth in mind as she wrote the story.

In the play Prometheus Bound, the gods are directly involved as characters and are portrayed as extremely stubborn. Prometheus, a titan and god of foresight, is being punished for aiding the humans who Zeus would like to replace with a new master race. As a relatively new leader of the gods, Zeus has the power to punish Prometheus in anyway he wants even though Prometheus is a god himself. Zeus decides to bind Prometheus to a rock, hence the name Prometheus Bound. There are many instances where Zeus is proven to be stubborn and cold shouldered towards everyone, regardless of their standing. When talking to

Sophocles was born about 496 BC in Colonus Hippius which is now a part of Athens, Greece, he was to become one of the great playwrights of the golden age. Sophocles was the son of Laius and Jocasta, both wealthy in the city that Sophocles grew up in. Luckily, He was the son of a wealthy merchant, he would enjoy all the perks of a successful Greek empire. Sophocles was provided with the best education which would help him in many ways in the future of his life.

The mythological character and God, Zeus, is portrayed in many ways, by many different people. Hesiod describes Zeus as being relentless in his fury. When he gets mad he unleashes all of his power. If his brother Hades wasn’t in charge of the Underworld, he’d make all of Hell break loose. For example, in Hesiod’s Theogony, which is about when Zeus defeated his father, Cronus, he says, “Then Zeus did not hold back any longer, but now immediately his heart was filled with strength and he showed clearly all his force.” (Morford and Lenardon 85) He tends to treat others, mortals and immortals, very unfairly. Two mortals could do the same exact type of sacrilege towards him, and depending on how he felt that day, he would take two very different approaches to how he would treat them. He also doesn’t take any threats towards him very lightly at all. If anyone ever threatens him, he normally punishes them very severely, if he doesn’t destroy them completely. Hesiod’s approach to Zeus’ behavior is overdramatic, and makes it seem more extreme than it probably would’ve been.

     Prometheus, the Titan of Greek mythology, was considered to be the most important Titan ever in all the myths. He helped the human race tremendously in his efforts to sustain an easier lifestyle. Mankind had great respect for him because of his advantages and gifts or abilities he gave them. Also, his battle against Zeus as a result of his love for man was very much appreciated. Prometheus was one of the most interesting Greek mythology figures in his time. He was a very kind, loving, generous, and courteous god to mankind. This can be seen through many events in his life including a particular myth that the reader will acknowledge in this research paper.

Prometheus Bound is an Ancient Greek tragic play that is one of three plays concerning the large-than-human figure, Prometheus. Zeus, the king of the Gods on Mont Olympus in ancient Greek religion, Prometheus, a Titan, he stole the fire from Mont Olympus and brought the secrets using fire to mortals, then punished by Zeus to a life bound in chains. This is where the title—Prometheus Bound—is given to the play. Prometheus myth is originated from ancient Greek poet Hesiod’s Theology. In Theology, Prometheus is an evildoer, a liar. However, In Aeschylus' works, he fights for human survival and against Zeus. Prometheus’s name means "anticipate," in the play, he had known that Zeus would punish him, but he declined to comment on the tales, instead, still doing the things under his willing. “It is painful to me to tell the tale, painful to keep it silent.” ---- Scene I “Prometheus Bound”. Prometheus violates the fate and against with it. This action is a tragedy but incredible. The image of Prometheus refers to the people's rebellion and noble. This revolution is intimately related to the progress of social civilization. It is rooted in the individual in the struggle with the fate, society, and itself. From time to time, people reading “Prometheus Bound”, Prometheus tagged as “iron-hearted” and “made of stone” but Zeus is “furious” and “arrogant”. However, the good

With that it is hard to make a determination that Zeus is at fault. Hesiod version in Theogony and Works and Day, gives the impression of Zeus as scorned, angry, and justified for punishing Prometheus. This is the difference between the two stories.

In the play Prometheus Bound, there were many powerful characters that played a huge role in the rise of Prometheus; there is one character alone that is worth talking about. In the play, Zeus is a relatively new God in Greece. He recently became the God of Olympus. Many of the Greeks come to find out what type of God he will be. When situations arise throughout the play, Zeus shows his ruler ways in not such a good light. He is mostly described in the play to be a cruel, vengeful, and dictatorial God. Even in tough situations, Zeus still acted in a vengeful manner. A great example of his vengeance towards Prometheus, he ordered Hephaesteus to chain Prometheus to a cliff, in hope he will die, but Prometheus is a Titian, therefore he cannot die. This part in particular stood out when reading the play; Zeus shows his cruel, vengeful, and dictatorial