38 pages • 1 hour read
Prometheus Bound
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Prometheus Bound is a Greek tragedy traditionally attributed to Aeschylus. The play, whose authorship and date are disputed, dramatizes the story of the Titan Prometheus and his defiance of Zeus, the new ruler of the gods. After Prometheus steals fire from the gods and gives it to humanity, Zeus punishes Prometheus by chaining him to a remote mountain to suffer eternal torment. The play explores the themes of The Conflict Between Power and Justice, The Consequences of Defying Tyranny, and The Role of Knowledge and Enlightenment in Human Progress.
This study guide refers to David Grene’s translation of the play from the third edition of the University of Chicago Press series The Complete Greek Tragedies (2013).
Content Warning: The source material features violence and torture.
Plot Summary
The play begins with Zeus’s servants, Might and Violence, dragging the Titan Prometheus to a mountain where he is to suffer punishment for defying Zeus. Then Hephaestus, the god of the forge, unwillingly nails Prometheus to the mountain as Might taunts both him and Prometheus. Hephaestus, Might, and Violence finally leave Prometheus to reflect on his fate and his punishment.
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Related Titles
By Aeschylus
