About Prometheus Bound - Essay Example

Order 123866 May 2, 2006 About Prometheus Bound To have absolute power is to master the circumstance and all it encompasses. Zeus, the recently appointed God of all Gods, reigns supreme over the lands of man and is quick to punish those who defy him. Prometheus, God of forethought, denied that Zeus held an absolute power because he envisioned the overthrowing of the God. When asked Prometheus denied Zeus the information he held regarding who it would be that threatened the throne of Zeus, so as punishment he was bound by shackles to a great rock.

In Prometheus Bound (n.d.), Prometheus must come to terms with his own limitations in power, but demonstrates that Zeus has limits as well. Prometheus was a god, but felt he had little influence in the matters of the Gods. Prometheus, known as the teacher of all arts, suffered at least partially because of his aid to humankind. Prometheus was fond of humans and, wishing them to flourish, took fire from the gods and gave it to the people. The fact that Prometheus cared deeply about the human race was in strong contrast to how Zeus felt, and was a main point of disagreement between the two.

Prometheus described Zeus's feelings toward humankind when he stated, "It was his wish to wipe out man [sic] and rear another race" (Aeschylus 6}. For this reason, Prometheus defied the divinity and superior knowledge of Zeus. If Prometheus were given absolute power, he would be ensured that tyranny would fall and justice reign supreme over the gods and the human race. Io, daughter of Inachus, has also suffered by the reign of Zeus. Zeus became smitten with Io and sent a message through the oracle, Loxias that if Io were not sent to wander the earth a lightning bolt would be sent by Zeus to destroy the human race.

Upon leaving, she was deformed with the placing of horns upon her head and was subjected to the scorn of Hera, which came in the form of the gadfly stings that caused madness. After speaking with Prometheus, Io realized she would have to endure the torments of Zeus, who she supported as a god of great divinity and superior knowledge. If absolute power were granted to Io, she would see Zeus give up the throne and Hera to be her wife on Earth. At this point one wonders if reconciliation is possible between the characters Prometheus, Io, and Zeus.

Prometheus has foretold that Zeus will need him one day in order to find out who threatens his reign as king, holding to the theme of divinity and power. Love may play a role as well, because the text implies that Io's descendant will loose Prometheus from his imprisonment, which can only be done by Zeus or one of his heirs. Overall, the themes of Prometheus are part of a single effort by Aeschylus to portray the nature of divine authority in the play as a whole. Absolute power does exist on the level of the divine, but with great power often comes corruption and tyranny when responsibility is not exercised.

Prometheus knows the price to be paid to save the human race, but pays the price because of his sense of responsibility to the people. Works CitedAeschylus (1994). Prometheus Bound. Internet Classics Archive. Retrieved on May 2, 2006 from