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| Character | Prometheus | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Lamenting | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy | |
| Description | Prometheus laments his fate | |
Summary
Prometheus Bound's story is about the punishment that Zeus inflicts upon Prometheus for giving the human race the gift of fire. There is no action, just dialogue and speeches as Prometheus is chained throughout the play.
At the beginning of the play Kratos, Bia and Hephaestus (Zeus' servants) carry Prometheus to a rocky mountain in the Caucasus and chain him to a rock. When they depart Prometheus delivers this monologue where he laments his fate.
At the beginning of the play Kratos, Bia and Hephaestus (Zeus' servants) carry Prometheus to a rocky mountain in the Caucasus and chain him to a rock. When they depart Prometheus delivers this monologue where he laments his fate.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| PROMETHEUS O divine air Breezes on swift bird-wings, Ye river fountains, and of ocean-waves The multitudinous laughter Mother Earth! And thou all-seeing circle of the sun, Behold what I, a God, from Gods endure! Look down upon my shame, The cruel wrong that racks my frame, The grinding anguish that shall waste my strength, Till time's ten thousand years have measured out their length! He hath devised these chains, The new throned potentate who reigns, Chief of the chieftains of the Blest. Ah me! The woe which is and that which yet shall be I wail; and question make of these wide skies When shall the star of my deliverance rise. And yet-and yet-exactly I foresee All that shall come to pass; no sharp surprise Of pain shall overtake me; what's determined Bear, as I can, I must, knowing the might Of strong Necessity is unconquerable. But touching my fate silence and speech alike Are unsupportable. For boons bestowed On mortal men I am straitened in these bonds. I sought the fount of fire in hollow reed Hid privily, a measureless resource For man, and mighty teacher of all arts. This is the crime that I must expiate Hung here in chains, nailed 'neath the open sky. Ha! Ha! What echo, what odour floats by with no sound? God-wafted or mortal or mingled its strain? Comes there one to this world's end, this mountain-girt ground, To have sight of my torment? Or of what is he fain? A God ye behold in bondage and pain, The foe of Zeus and one at feud with all The deities that find Submissive entry to the tyrant's hall; His fault, too great a love of humankind. Ah me! Ah me! what wafture nigh at hand, As of great birds of prey, is this I hear? The bright air fanned Whistles and shrills with rapid beat of wings. There cometh nought but to my spirit brings Horror and fear. |
