●Is Prometheus relatable for us?

It is said that the literature reflects the true face of society or it

is the mirror of society. The most amazing thing about it is that we
can learn things from others’ experiences. Prometheus bound is one
of a masterpiece of Greek tragedies. At its very first glance, we even
do not find it interesting. But slowly and gradually as we go through
the sufferings of Prometheus, we find some things relatable to us.
           It is generally expected that when a man does good, he will
receive good in return. But sometimes Poetic Karma does not work,
and all evil things come to those who always want good for others. It
is when efforts become vain and fate works. This is what happened
to Prometheus. He felt great sympathy for mankind, he found that
he could not see their sufferings, that is why he decided to help them
and brought a fire of wisdom for them. When human receives
Prometheus’s gift, they became able to make food, harvest crops,
learn the chemistry of stars, play miracles in the field of medicine,
make shelter, learn how to keep warm themselves from the miseries
of climate and gain many other comforts. But unlike humans,
Prometheus' bad days began right after doing such a great deed.
Rather he would have awarded or praised for making humans’ lives
better, he was chained to the rocks of Caucasus for eternity.
           After watching/reading miseries of Prometheus in return for
such a good deed, the readers realized that there is something else
other than efforts. We should not always expect the best of every
action, but we should also prepare ourselves for the worst result, as
it is said ‘Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be
disappointed’.

●How did Prometheus Bound inspire literary work?

           Prometheus bound is one of the finest Greek tragedy.
Besides under many criticisms and even after passing centuries it has
still a very important place in classic literature. 
Previously, the play was performed by only one actor, who is
supposed to act many roles by using different masks. But it was
Aeschylus’s Prometheus bound which increased the number of
actors in the play by giving dialogues to the chorus. In Prometheus
Bound, the chorus is directly involved in the action of the play. Earlier
they were just supposed to dance or make announcements before
the audience. In this play, not only their status had changed, but they
were also given very important words and dialogues which play a
crucial role in provokes a stream of emotions in the audience. So, it
was Aeschylus’s Prometheus bound which inspired the literary world
by introducing the concept of more than one character in the play.

●How are the various characters presented in the play?

●Prometheus:
Prometheus is a titan and protagonist of the play. He was
ordered by Zeus, the God of all gods, to create mankind but while
doing so he also gave a sacred fire of Gods to them which enraged
Zeus. As a punishment, he was chained to the rocks of Caucasus for
an eternity. But throughout the play, he was portrayed as a defiant
character who is not guilty over his act, rather, he used very curse
words for Zeus. He is not afraid of him; everyone is asking him to not
show too much rebellion because it was obvious that if Zeus heard
him, he would send more agonies to him (Which happened at the
end of the play). But Prometheus remains adamant throughout the
play. He was proud of what he had done for mankind and had no
fear of Zeus at all.
The reason for Prometheus’s stubbornness was probably that
he knew that one day the reign of the Zeus will end, and he will
become powerless. He had also known that the one who would
destroy his kingdom which he told to the chorus and Io but refused
to share with Hermes who was sent by Zeus.

I helped Zeus,
that tyrant of the Gods—now he repays me
with this foul torment. It is a sickness 270
which somehow comes with every tyranny
to place no trust in friends.
This is how he seeks to discipline me,
without a shred of mercy—the spectacle
300
disgraces Zeus’ name.
I freely chose to do the things I did.
I will not deny that. By offering help
to mortal beings I brought on myself
this suffering. But still, I did not think 330
I would receive this kind of punishment,
wasting away on these high rocky cliffs,
fixed on this remote and desolate crag.
But do not mourn the troubles I now face.
Yes, and even though I am being tortured, 210
bound in these strong chains, the day is coming
when that ruler of those sacred beings
will truly need me to reveal to him
a new intrigue by which he will be stripped
of all his honours and his sceptre, too
●Chorus:
The chorus has to play a very important role in this play
because previously it did not take part directly in the play. Aeschylus
brought it into the play and gave it a very important role to play. The
chorus was daughters of sea-God Oceanus and was very friendly
towards Prometheus. Again, and again it showed kind and
sympathetic emotions towards him and felt very sorry for his
sufferings. It was mostly dialoguing of the chorus which made
readers feel pity and sorrow for Prometheus as it was almost crying
over his sufferings. Besides their compassionate feelings for him they
also warn Prometheus for his rebellious attitude against Zeus and
asked him to be apologetic in his tone because Zeus is an oppressive
God, he can easily increase your agonies.

I groan for your accursed fate,

Prometheus, and floods of tears 500
are streaming from my weeping eyes
and moisture wets my tender cheeks.
For Zeus, who rules by his own laws,
has set your wretched destiny and shows
towards the Gods of earlier days
an overweening sense of power.
But Zeus
could load you with afflictions worse than these. but it is wise
to pay due homage to Necessity. 1160
With that audacious confidence of yours, 220
you do not cower before these bitter pains,
but you allow your tongue to speak too freely.

●Oceanus:
         Oceanus is a titan and God of the sea. He is also very
sympathetic towards Prometheus. Like the chorus, he also suggested
Prometheus be careful while using words for Zeus. He also offered
help to him which Prometheus refused by saying that you should
take care of your act for coming to see me because if Zeus would
have known that you came here, he will not leave you anyway.

You know I feel great sympathy for you

360
and for your suffering. It seems to me
our ties of kinship make me feel that way.
But even if there were no family bonds,
no one wins more respect from me than you
If you keep hurling out offensive words,
with such insulting and abusive language,
Zeus may well hear you, even though his throne
is far away, high in the heavenly sky,
and then this present heap of anguished pain
390
will seem mere childish play.
I will 400
and, if I can, attempt to ease your pain.
You should not deter 420
a person who is eager to help out
For I am sure—yes, I am confident—
there is one gift which Zeus will offer me,
and he will free you from this suffering
●Io:
Io is the only human in the whole play. She was a victim of
Zeus’ lust as he has sexual desires for her, but he transformed her
into heifer because he was afraid of his wife, Hera, who also put
many miseries on Io. Like Prometheus, she was also bearing the
torments of tyrant Zeus. Her character is very pitiful for the audience
because even at the moment of speaking she screams out of pain as
the gadfly attacked her again and again. Prometheus, as a character
who can see predict or foresee the future, told about her journey
and more sufferings which she has to bear yet and also mentioned
the name of one of her grandchildren who will free Prometheus from
all these pains.

Aaaaiiii! The pain!!!

That gadfly stings me once again, the ghost
of earth-born Argus! Get him away from me,
O Earth, that herdsman with a thousand eyes—
the very sight of him fills me with terror!
Those crafty eyes of his keep following me.
Though dead, he is not hidden underground, 700
but moves out from the shades beneath the earth
and hunts me down.
Aaaaiii!! . . . and by oppressing me like this,
setting a fearful stinging fly to chase
a helpless girl, drive me to this madness?
Burn me with fire, or bury me in earth,
or feed me to the monsters of the sea.
Aaaiiii! . . . which ones
go through the sufferings I face? Give me
some clear sign how much more agony
I have to bear! Is there no remedy?
Tell me the medicines for this disease, 740
if you know any. Say something to me!
Speak to a wretched wandering young girl!

●Hephaestus:
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and God of Artisan. He was
commanded to nail the Prometheus at the mountain of Sicilia. He
was accompanied by Zeus’ power and force, who was ordering him
to tighten the chain more and more. But he was a little hesitant to
chain the Prometheus and has some sort of sympathy for him, but
after all he has to follow the orders of his father.

I am not bold enough to use sheer force

against a kindred God and nail him down
here on this freezing rock. But nonetheless, 20
I must steel myself to finish off our work,
for it is dangerous to disregard
the words of Father Zeus.
Alas!
O Prometheus, this suffering of yours—
90
how it makes me weep!
●Hermes:
Hermes is God of messenger and mischief. He was sent to
discover how Zeus’ reign would end. Unlike Oceanus, he is very
arrogant and rude towards Prometheus and behaving like a very
obedient servant of Zeus. He showed no mercy on his sufferings and
asked him violently about the secret. When Prometheus refused to
share any details with him, he tried to make him afraid by Zeus’s
angriness, but he left vainly. 
You thief of fire,
I am here to speak to you. Father Zeus
is ordering you to make known this marriage
you keep boasting of and to provide the name
1180
of who will bring on Zeus’ fall from power.
Do not speak in enigmatic riddles,
but set down clearly each and every fact.
If these words of mine
do not convince you, think about the storm,
the triple wave of torment which will fall
and you cannot escape. First, Father Zeus
will rip this mountain crag with thunder claps
1260
and bolts of flaming lightning, burying
your body in the rock, and yet this cleft
will hold you in its arms. When you have spent
a long time underground, you will return
into the light, and Zeus’ winged hound,
his ravenous eagle, will cruelly rip
your mutilated body into shreds
and, like an uninvited banqueter,
will feast upon your liver all day long,
until its chewing turns the organ black.
●Power:
Power is an abstract idea, but Aeschylus presented it as a
character in the play. It acted on the behalf of Zeus (as it belongs to
him). It has a very bossy attitude and repeatedly ordering the
Hephaestus to chain Prometheus tightly and do not show any mercy
to him. The power is usually enforced through several masses, but
we can see that the power has manifested its strength into language.
By using such harsh words and merciless dialogues, it has proved
that language is not an innocent eternity. 

Bind his hands.

Use some heavy hammer blows and rivet him
against the rock.
70
Hold on—
I’ll give you orders as often as I please 100
and keep on badgering you. Move down,
and use your strength to fix his legs in place.
●Force:
Force is also accompanied by Hephaestus along with power to
chain Prometheus on the rocks of Caucasus. But he remains silent
throughout the play and did not utter a single word.