Prometheus Bond Quotes

Prometheus Bond is a drama of disparity. Zeus, the newly tyrannical force established in the heavens, has obtained more power than is just. Prometheus, an ally of Zeus in the beginning of the drama, has granted mankind the power of fire and knowledge. The actions of Prometheus’s set the tyrannical god, Zeus, equitably angry and harshly punishes Prometheus. In the final scheme of things Prometheus is rebellious. His change in heart questions the result of Zeus’s actions. The actions presented in Prometheus Bond provide a symbol of the conflict between Prometheus and Zeus: the binding of the Titan. The binding is a representation is a feud between god and god and god and fate. A confrontation between tyrant and aristocrat at he forces of intelligence

and order are combated with each other. In the Greek tragedy, Prometheus Bond offers a strong criticism of Zeus, however Zeus’s rule in relation to justice is equivalent to justice because he sets the standards of right and wrong.
The affair between Prometheus and mankind proves to be fatal. As a god of guile and might, he is defeated by his own heart for his pity towards the humans. The fact that Prometheus is overcome by pity, he helps mankind though he understands that consequences of his intrusion. The flaw of Prometheus becomes the crux of his reversal of fortune, he once was a superior to a god who pities, to a pitiful god bound by chains. As Prometheus claims, “Yes to my friends indeed I am a spectacle of pity” (Prometheus Bond, 248) he accepts that he has fallen at the hands of his mistakes. Prometheus, the unbound god is bound by pity towards human’s ad out of his fatal flaw he falls from his heavenly position to eh miserable state of mortals He is constrained and suffered like the humans. Prometheus is punished by a superior god Zeus, for his embrace of mankind. Prometheus’s actions caused Zeus to believe that the knowledge gave humans to much power. Zeus has the right to punish Prometheus for his actions because, Prometheus did not think of the consequences of his actions. Prometheus action’s ignored the order of power. The order of power is a line in which one must not cross. Not matter god or mortals the ladder of hierarchy can not be disrupted. A disruption in the order of ranks can cause chaos. It seems as if Prometheus wants gratitude from the humans, “every art of mankind comes from Prometheus” (Prometheus Bond 505). Pride and glory possible reasons behind his granting of knowledge and fire to the humans; he desires the gratification of mortals. Though Prometheus understands that Zeus would not agree, Prometheus does so anyways because he refuses to acknowledge the hierarchy of power. Zeus, the superior god, did not want such knowledge to be available to mankind because of the unprecedented consequences. The mortals may not know how to execute the new information and could cause their own bane rather than fortuity.
Prometheus’s decision to suppress the secret about a prophecy about the possible downfall of Zeus’s sovereignty. Despite the fact, that Prometheus is tortured and is not coerced by Hermes, he refuses to give up the essence of the prophecy. The prophecy is the only thing that Prometheus has over Zeus. His torment becomes sufferable because he knows that Zeus will not be fulfilled by his punishment. Though Prometheus is constantly tortured by the hands of the vicious bird, he does not equate his suffering for the gratification of telling Zeus the marriage that can cause the demise of his reign. As resented in the conversation between he and Hermes, Prometheus is a proud and stubborn god, “Let it not cross your mind that I will turn womanish-minded from my fixed decision, or that I shall entreat the one I hate so greatly […] to loose me from my chains” (Prometheus Bond, 1003-1007). Prometheus is adamant of his reasoning behind withholding the information to Hermes. He believes he is right; he views it as a dab against the unjust god. Yet, his refusal to release the entity of the prophecy to Zeus cause an unnecessary rift between he and Zeus. His torment is twofold. He is physically punished, yet his hatred he feels for the gods who punish him is a torment of the mind. Though he is the one who is bond in chains, he obtains information that causes Zeus to punish him. Prometheus’s obstinacy accounts for his defiance to authority. As an insubordinate god, he must obey the rules set by Zeus. Though he may not agree with the tactics of the laws set, he must abide by them. One individual whom ignores the laws creates a chain of effects that allow others to follow. Zeus’s decision to punish Prometheus is not a showcase of his authority, rather to set an example of one who does not comply to the order of laws.
In the tragedy, Prometheus attempts to depict himself as a victim of a tyrant, however in actuality is an agitator of law and discipline.

Prometheus’s mentality evolved from a rational compliant god of compromise to an agitator. In the beginning, Prometheus is rational and believes that Zeus will, “come to meet my haste, to join in amity and union with me-one day he shall come” (Prometheus Bound, 193-195). Prometheus is convinced that Zeus will come around and ask for him join together as they once did. Though he understands that he is punished, he is rational in that he is open for compromise and unity. Early in his character development, Prometheus shows fear and laments his fate, something that does not recur later. As Prometheus tells his story he becomes angrier and more defiant. He removes emphasis from reconciliation with Zeus and focuses on his own self importance as a force of progress. He boasts of the gifts he bestowed upon humanity and insists he is responsible for all human art. He accentuates himself as central to he growth of human civilization and its survival. As time progresses, Prometheus becomes irrational and fearless. He does not account for his actions and ceases to use his guile for his decision making. He no longer seems to experience sadness or fear, rather he urges Hermes to further punish him. Furthermore, earlier in text he attempts to reveal the prophecy in segments, yet now he shouts the entirety without fear. He openly mocks Zeus and Hermes

by expressing knowledge that will most anger his enemies. He ignores the reconciliation and his own liberation and declares that, “there is not a torture or an engine wherewithal Zeus can induce me to declare these things […] So let him hurl his smoky lightning flame, and throw in turmoil all things in the world […] me he shall not bend by all this to tell him who is fated to drive him from his tyranny” (Prometheus 898-997). He focuses his energy to the downfall of Zeus. Prometheus is now a romanticized version of himself as a defiant rebel.
Prometheus Bound is a Greek a tragedy that defines the opposition of two forces.

The questions of what is just and unjust arise as the Prometheus retells of his punishment to the other Olympian gods. The origin of his punishments is from his deceit and conniving ways as he goes against the laws created by Zeus. Though it is evident that Zeus is the rightly ruler of the heavens, Prometheus ceases to abide by his laws. In turn, he rebellious nature causes a rift between the mortal and immortal worlds. The mortals are now possessed with the ability of fire and new knowledge. A dangerous gift abruptly given to them by Prometheus, because of his selfish desire to obtain praise. His irrational behavior evolves as he first agreed to a possibility to reconcile with Zeus, yet feasts in anger and becomes unreasonable. Prometheus’s refusal to cooperate extends to the fact that he conceals the prophecy that can lead to the destruction of Zeus’s dominion. As a consequence of he actions of Prometheus he preludes the undeniable truth that the acts of an unreasonable and stubborn man to try to formulate the downfall of another man, will evidently lead to the folly of

himself.