Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound
Based on my understanding of the beginning of this book is that Prometheus is being punished for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to the mortals. Prometheus wanted to protect the mortals while Zeus wants to get rid of them. Due to power, Hephaestus is basically forced to punish Prometheus. He apologizes for the misery he is about to inflict and made it clear that he does not like what he is doing. The gods are definitely not happy with Prometheus for stealing fire but the mortals are happy about it. When the Chorus of nymphs went to check up on Prometheus, they figured it was Zeus responsible for all this misery because apparently Zeus wants to destroy the Titans and Prometheus is a Titan. The Titans were in power before the Olympian gods took over. Prometheus knew exactly what he was doing but he just did not know how bad the punishment would be.
It’s fascinating to see a little later in the book just how much more Prometheus has given the mortals than fire. He showed them how they might see into the future, by deciphering omens or interpreting signs. He gave them different inventions to help them in their work, and it’s quite ironic and says himself “All these devices, I invented for human beings. Yet now in my own misery, I can’t devise one single trick to free myself from this agony.” 680
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how Prometheus is being punished for helping out the weaker mortals, and how Zeus, who is an ultimately strong being, has no desire to help them, and instead fears them and wants them completely gone. This shows that although a being might be ultimately powerful, they will likely have some fear clouding their judgment, causing them to do irrational things, such as punishing Prometheus for doing a seemingly minor thing.
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