Group7a



Prometheus Unbound is a story of resistance to authority and realization of the key to gaining and maintaining power. In Prometheus Bound, Prometheus betrays Jupiter and the other Gods for giving the mortals fire (the secret to life) and is punished for all of eternity with a curse. Prometheus’ character continues to develop in the sequel, (Prometheus Unbound).

Throughout his time served being chained to a rock, Prometheus took advantage of his endless free time to think about why he was trapped by Jupiter’s curse. With the help of his mother, Earth, Prometheus realizes that he had threatened Jupiter’s power. Along with this, he notices that the key to having power is to be selfish, but aware. “Prometheus able to revoke his curse because he, eventually, understands that the ability to dominate others stems from a selfishness, which makes Jupiter the tyrant blind to his own limitations and unable to reciprocate feelings with another fellow being,” (Critical Essay #1). Jupiter is a God, which means that he is naturally selfish and inclined to want total power. This causes him to be blind to threats around him, and is what ultimately results in his being overthrown. Once Prometheus has been released following Jupiter’s fall, he incorporates these new ideas as well as his natural ability to be able to sympathize with humanity.

In this way, Prometheus and Frankenstein’s monster are somewhat parallel characters. They both are trapped between two worlds, where they mean well, but don’t consider the consequences of their actions.

Critical Essay #1: http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=2545

Critical Essay #2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Unbound

Critical Essay #3: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0039-3657(197823)18%3A4%3C625%3ASPDAP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-C