Character Analysis of Prometheus and Zeus
Myths are old fictional stories used to explain a natural phenomenon or a human trait. The
story, ‘Prometheus’ was a story told in ancient Greece that tried to explain how fire came into the
hands of man. In the exponent of the story, Prometheus had asked Zeus why the lord of the sky
refused to give man the gift and power of fire. Zeus had been uncomfortable with the topic, and
declared that man was happy, and demanded that Prometheus would not give man fire.
Prometheus had rebelled and brought fire to man. Zeus flew into rage. He bound the young titan to
a mountain and sent vultures to eat his liver. At the end of the story, Heracles (Hercules) freed
Prometheus and killed the vultures.
Firstly, the main protagonist was Prometheus. He was a young titan and his name meant
foresight. In the story, ‘Prometheus’, he showed that he was rebellious, stubborn, and brave.
“Prometheus was not satisfied. All night he lay awake making plans,”. This quote shows that
Prometheus didn’t believe what Zeus said, and risking anger from the powerful lord of gods, he
made plans to help man. This clearly shows that Prometheus was hard-headed and courageous.
“then went to every cave in the land,”. This quote tells us Prometheus is very hard-working, and
again, stubborn, for going to every cave in Greece to give help man.
Secondly, the main antagonist of ‘Prometheus’ is Zeus. Zeus is well known as the lord of the
gods of Greece and the skies. In the story, Zeus showed that he feared man. “More interesting,
perhaps, but infinitely more powerful,”. This shows that Zeus fears that man would grow so
powerful that they would challenge the lord of the gods. He also flew into rage at the end of the
conversation, showing suspicious discomfort in the conversation, which further proves that Zeus
feared the possible power of man. “I’ll turn their miserable little ball of earth into cinder,”. This
clearly shows that Zeus was extremely powerful due to his confidence that he could turn gigantic,
beautiful Earth into cinder with one bolt. Zeus was also shown to be extremely malevolent when
he “sent two vultures to hover about him forever, tearing his belly and eating his liver,”.
In conclusion, Prometheus was relentless, stubborn, rebellious, and courageous. His story
was passed down through generations and Prometheus was celebrated and renowned for his trait
that humans in the past respected and honored. Prometheus was also famous for his defiance to
greater power. Zeus’s worst characteristics were featured in ‘Prometheus’, but these traits show us
that no one is perfect, even the lord of skies wasn’t.