Character Analysis: Zeus and Prometheus

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Basically we have two myths here, each about Prometheus. The stories basically both agree that Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to man against Zeus’ approval.

Though Prometheus is considered a trickster and stole fire, his real crime is a disobedience to Zeus. However, in that statement it is hard to consider caring for man or humans a crime. It is obvious in both stories that Zeus’ reign is sovereign, and Prometheus went against Zeus’ sovereignty. However, what Prometheus did was good for the human race. In Zeus’ eye, man was considered inferior and he wanted man to be destroyed. If Prometheus had not hidden the flame inside a fennel-stalk and gave it to man, we as a people probably would not have advance according to the myth. Man was living in holes and caves — we were people of the day.

Reading these different stories one can come to the conclusion that it is the same basic tale in both Prometheus Bound and Hesiod — Prometheus is shackled for having stolen fire and given it to man. However, it is the details surrounding the theft that are quite different. In Hesiod, the story begin when Prometheus deceives Zeus, getting him to choose the inedible parts of the animal — the bones — rather than the meat at a sacrifice. Because of this trick, Zeus would not give humans fire. Prometheus stole it anyway and then gave it to man. Hesiod's leads the reader to believe tricking Zeus is impossible. But in Prometheus Bound, it never mentions this trick. In the play at verses, (484-521) Prometheus does refer to teaching humans to offer up thighbones wrapped in fat, but this was described as something to be one of goodness toward the Gods.

I don’t understand why the author of Prometheus Bound removed this element of trick...

... middle of paper ...

...xt, it saved man, though he must pay the consequences for his actions and since Prometheus had foresight, he knew what he was facing against Zeus and he did it anyway. I believe that makes it hard to determine was his punishment fair? Because of the human condition trying to show mercy on the actions of Prometheus makes me on one hand say no his punishment was unfair but for me to believe in Zeus’ sovereignty and control then I will have to rest on the decision of Yes, Zeus was fair in his punishment. It had to be done to keep order. It seems to me as a way to keep balance in all things in creation.

Works Cited

Prometheus Bound and Other Plays. Trans. Philip Vellacott. London: Penguin Group, 1961. 20-52. Print.

The Myth of Prometheus in Hesiod. In Jean-Pierre Vernant, Myth and Society in

Ancient Greece, trans. Janet Lloyd. New York: Zone Books.

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