Writing Assignment: Hesiod Works and Days - Book Report/Review Example

HESIOD: WORKS AND DAYS Discuss whether what is left under the rim of the pithos brought by the first woman is intended to be a blessing or a curse, or both. Overview of what was left in the rim of the Pithos In the “Works and Days”, Hesiod emphasizes the clear place of man before his maker. That is, the power of Zeus is magnified so high above that of humankind that humankind is made to submit totally to Zeus for power and fame. Through the power of Zeus, humankind could be belittled to almost nothing.

It is in the direction of this that Hesiod wrote that “Through him mortal men are famed or un-famed” (3). So the entire theme of the poem, “Works and Days” is used to depict the power and control of Zeus over humankind. Indeed, such power is exhibited in the sole authority owned by Zeus to create what he desires and destroy what he desires also. Again, the supremacy of Zeus over humankind and all other gods is reflected in the fact that Zeus causes the punishment of all these entities.

So in the clear exhibition of the authority to punish and the power to create, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to mold Pandora out of the soil of the earth as a punishment for Prometheus who had stolen the secret of fire. The pubishment would be recurring after Pandora was created because she was created with the collection of gifts, which Hesiod stated that “because all they who dwelt on Olympus gave each a gift, a plague to men who eat bread” (82). As these plagues or gifts were kept in the pithos, it was expected that when the pithos was opened, they would all saw out but it turns out that one of them remains, which was Hope.

Indeed, two perspectives of what was intended for the Hope that was left in the rim of the pithos could be discussed and these are both blessing and curse. Perspective of Blessing Hesiod makes it clear that when the pithos was opened, all that were escaped from it were plagues, afflictions and troubles. This is because the gifts that were used to create Pandora, who opened the pithos were by themselves plagues (82). Indeed, these plagues, afflictions and troubles were intended directly for humankind.

This means that once the pithos had been opened and those virtues had escaped from it, humankind were to bear the exact nature of those plagues. Noting that such plagues make the life of humankind uncomfortable and against the original plan of creation, it is just appropriate that there would be another means by which these plagues would leave humankind. Also, noting that Zeus is love and cares a lot of humankind, it is just right to argue that having gathered a set of plagues, he would certainly have a remedy that would curtail the effect of the plagues, so that the plague would not cause the total destruction of humankind: a creature that he had invested so much in creating.

The remedy was therefore the Hope that was left in the rim of the pithos. Even though Pandora opened the pithos out of curiosity and not with an intention to afflict the plague on humankind, it would just be the act of Zeus’s love for humankind and his omniscience that the Hope was left without escaping. At least, by the mere fact that humankind could be assured that there still remained Hope for the future and for the current troubles and plagues that he suffers, life would become more soothing to live because hope brings strength to the soul, and this strength of Hope is a blessing.

Perspective of Curse Leading on to the same argument or debate that the Hope that was left in the rim of the pithos was intended to be a blessing, assuring humankind of an end to all the afflictions, pains and troubles some day to come, the Hope could also be seen as a curse as the future is not known to any humankind. Hesiod indeed describes the time of the future as a mystery that would take very long to uncover. Because of this, he warns that “do not make a mock of mysteries, for Heaven is angry at this also” (756).

As man keeps wait for the future, what the latest quote suggests is that the waiting could be so long that it would appear as almost never coming and so some may want to mock at those who wait for it. And so if humankind has to wait till the time that Heaven will be enthroned on earth to cause an end to the troubles of humankind, then indeed the Hope that was left is going to leave humankind with further troubles – the trouble of waiting. Something that can be called a curse because it might almost be an endless waiting that would not materialize as long as humankind has breath and lives on earth.

So if the Hope that was left in the rim of the pithos had come out with the other plagues, it would have been a better choice for humankind because humankind would have had that hope right in the midst of his troubles. Until then, the lonely waiting would have to continue. CITED WORKS Hesiod. Works and Days. Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. 1914. Web. September 13, 2012.