Brief Analysis and Appreciation of Prometheus

A Brief Analysis of Foreign Literary Works in Prometheus Bound

Author: [Ancient Greece] Aeschylus

Type: drama

Background hint

This book was written in 478 BC. Aeschylus (525- 456 BC) was one of the three great tragic writers in ancient Greece, and was praised as "the father of tragedy" by later generations. Aeschylus was born in a noble family, but he broke through class restrictions, supported slave-owner democracy and opposed oligarchy. Aeschylus personally participated in many battles against the Persian invaders, and based on this, he wrote The Persian, which is the only existing ancient Greek drama based on reality. Aeschylus wrote 70 tragedies and many comedies in his life, and won 17 times in the drama competition. In 468 BC, he left Athens angrily because he lost to the young Sophocles in the competition. In 456 BC, Aeschylus died in the city of Kira in southern Sicily. After his death, the Athenians passed a special law allowing him to repeat his own tragedy. The Prometheus Trilogy is Aeschylus' best work, and only the first Prometheus Bound remains. Aeschylus's plays had little influence in ancient times, but they were widely valued in the19th century. He is one of Marx's favorite writers. Marx rereads his works once a year, especially Prometheus Bound.

Prometheus and Aeschylus Tragedy published by People's Literature Publishing House and translated by Luo Niansheng are all good versions.

Content essence

Prometheus stole fire from mankind and angered Zeus, the Lord of the gods. Zeus ordered the powerful gods and Vulcan to nail Prometheus to a cliff in the Caucasus and expose him to the rain, snow, wind, frost and scorching sun to warn him not to show excessive sympathy for mankind in the future. Hephaestus, the Vulcan, sympathized with Prometheus, but he could not resist Zeus' orders. Under the supervision and urging of the powerful God, he nailed Prometheus firmly to the cliff.

Sisters of the choir came to visit Prometheus. Prometheus told them that he had been kind to Zeus: at that time, the gods clashed and some gods opposed the election of Zeus as king. At the critical moment, it was Prometheus and his mother themis who designed and helped Zeus become king. After Zeus ascended the throne, he ignored human suffering. Prometheus was very sympathetic to mankind. He taught them all kinds of survival knowledge and skills and stole kindling for them. The narrow-minded Zeus did not read his previous kindness, but ordered him to be nailed here.

Oceanus, one of the river gods, came to visit Prometheus. Prometheus advised the river god not to plead with Zeus. He said he knew that one day he would be released. In the face of Prometheus' suffering, the choir said that people all over the world were crying for it.

At this time, Io, the daughter of Inakos, the river god, wandered to the place where Prometheus was crucified. She was jealous of Hera, the queen of heaven, because she ignited Zeus' love. Hera let the gadfly stab her with poison, and kept chasing her, making her constantly flee from one place to another. She asked Prometheus when her suffering would end. The choir asked her to tell her own experience first, and then Prometheus told her her own future. Prometheus bondage

IO said that she often had hallucinations at home, told her that Zeus was in love with her and lured her out to join Zeus. Io summoned up the courage to tell her father about it, and Inakos sent messengers to ask God what to do. Finally, God instructed that IO must be driven out of the motherland and drifted around, otherwise the angry Zeus would destroy the whole family of the River God. In this way, Io grew horns on her head, was chased by the gadfly, and embarked on a wandering journey. After Io finished speaking, Prometheus expressed deep sympathy for her suffering. He said Io would continue her long wandering life. She will cross grasslands, wade rivers, climb mountains and swim in the sea, and she will encounter all kinds of dangers during her journey. Finally, Io will reach the Nile Delta, where he will build a home with Zeus. Among the descendants handed down from Io, there will be a famous hero and a brave archer who will save Prometheus' suffering. At this time, Io's poisonous needle began to attack again, and the painful Io drifted into the distance.

Prometheus said that the result of this marriage would push Zeus off the throne and the throne. When Zeus heard these words, he sent an emissary to Hermes to ask Prometheus, asking him to reveal what marriage would make Zeus lose power, otherwise he would be punished more severely. Prometheus said that he would never reveal the secret unless he untied the chains of shame, so Hermes had to leave angrily. At this time, the earth shook, thunder roared and the sea roared, and a greater disaster was coming to Prometheus.

personal seal

The following excerpt is taken from the end of the script. God sent Hermes to force Prometheus to reveal the secret that Zeus would be overthrown. The images of Zeus and Prometheus are vividly portrayed. The dialogue is grand and solemn, which represents the typical style of Aeschylus.

Hermes fell from the sky.

Hermes, you sly, resentful fellow, I'm talking about you-you offended the gods and gave their power to people who were short-lived. You are a thief stealing fire. Father asked you to point out the marriage that you often said would make him lose power; Tell you, don't be vague, be specific; Prometheus, don't let me run again; You know, vague words can't calm Zeus' anger.

Prometheus, you are so beautiful and arrogant that you deserve to be a servant of the gods.

You are still very young, and you have just gained power. Do you think you can live in the happy Acropolis? Didn't I see two kings overthrown from above? I also want to see the third king, the present master, who will soon be overthrown in disgrace. Do you think I will be afraid of these new gods and give in to them? I'm not afraid, absolutely not. Return to the original road; Because you can't ask anything if you ask.

Hermes, it is because of your stubbornness that you entered this miserable port. Prometheus, you have to believe that I won't trade my unfortunate fate for your cheap service.

Hermes, I think you are more suitable for this stone than the messenger trusted by Zeus' father.

Prometheus' arrogant emissary can naturally say arrogant words.

Hermes, you seem very proud under the present circumstances.

Prometheus, am I proud? I can see that my enemy is so proud, and I will count you in.

Hermes, what? Do you blame me for your pain?

In a word, Prometheus tells you that I hate all the gods who benefit from me, bite the hand that feeds them, and persecute me.

(Selected from Prometheus, translated by Luo Niansheng, published by People's Literature Publishing House)

Humorous words

Prometheus: I made people stop expecting death. Captain Song: What medicine have you found to cure this disease? Prometheus: I put blind hope in their hearts.

It is easy to stand outside the pain and convince the suffering people. (Prometheus)

I am willing to endure any doomed suffering with him; I have learned to hate traitors, and nothing makes me sick more than betraying my friends. (Captain Song)

Reading teaching

Aeschylus' masterpiece Prometheus Trilogy only retains the first Prometheus Bound. The other two are Prometheus Released and Prometheus with Fire. The former tells the story that Zeus finally reconciled with Prometheus and sent his son Herakles to release Prometheus. The latter wrote that the Athenians thanked Prometheus, the god of grace, and there was a torch parade in the play. Unfortunately, we will never see these two plays again.

As can be seen from the first surviving film, Aeschylus created a tall Prometheus who dared to resist Zeus, the Lord of the gods, for the happiness of mankind. He loves and sympathizes with mankind, and does not want mankind to continue to live in ignorance. Therefore, he brought knowledge and fire to mankind, opened the door of human wisdom, and led the course of human civilization. However, Prometheus' behavior annoyed Zeus, and Zeus ordered him to be nailed to a cliff in the Caucasus, exposing him to the bullying of snow and scorching sun all his life. Prometheus' plaintive appeal, the body that endures the wind, frost and scorching sun on the Caucasus cliff, is like another savior of mankind, Jesus Christ. Their suffering is to give the future light and happiness to mankind. Their belief in redemption is firm, so their bodies enjoy spiritual advantages despite suffering. As Marx commented, Prometheus was "the noblest saint and martyr in the history of philosophy".

Zeus himself did not appear in the whole script. However, judging from everyone's talk, the newly acquired despotism of the Lord of the gods has gone on the rampage, biting off the hand of the enemy, and being strong on the outside and hollow on the inside has been revealed. Although the play is based on Greek mythology, it alludes to the political situation in Athens at that time. Aeschylus used the drama The Bound Prometheus to denounce the tyrannical tyrant in the ancient Greek city-state, satirizing the powerful god's accomplice, the coward of the river god and the slave of Hermes, so Marx said that the Greek gods were beaten black and blue and almost died in the light of Prometheus' resistance.

Prometheus Bound has a simple plot, but there are sharp dramatic conflicts. The theater is grand, solemn in atmosphere, grandiose in style, full of rich lyrical atmosphere, and has the characteristics of grand and solemn early Greek tragedy.

Gorky said that Prometheus is "the immortal image that human beings love"; Belinsky praised his spirit of "not afraid of authority, only recognizing reason". Prometheus Bond's high fighting spirit and pure personality contain amazing spiritual purification, which makes people transcend daily life and see the glory of sacred ideals. It is indeed a good book worth reading frequently.

Reading suggestions

This is an excellent play worth reading frequently. The part describing Io's wandering journey in the play once satisfied the ancient Greeks' desire to know the world, but it is a bit piled up for today's readers and can be skipped.