Turning now from an "Iron Age" epic poem by Homer to a "Classical" Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, describe the character in the first half of the text who exhibits the most "freedom" while also analyzing the characteristics and circumstances that may make the other characters enslaved. Once again it may help if you define freedom and slavery.
Have fun with this text guys as it is one of my all time favorites.
Cheers,
Dr. Layne
Freedom is defined as the power to determine action without restraint, while slavery is a state of subjection. In the context of this story, none of the characters are "free" since they are all ultimately under the bondage of fate. Prometheus is under the malevolent control of Zeus and the gods. The Chorus of Oceanids are subject to Oceanus, while Oceanus' few words are spoken in warning of the wrath of Zeus. Hephaestus' only actions are taken because they are the will of Zeus. Even Zeus himself, according to Prometheus, "could not alter that which is ordained"(22). Might and Violence would have to be the characters with the most freedom, since they exercise the most power. However, they do not have any kind of ultimate freedom since their actions are predetermined by their dominant traits (might and violence). Prometheus could technically be considered free because fate eventually will work itself out in his favor, but this does not release him from fate's bondage.
ReplyDeleteI believe in freedom that can be given up in order to achieve deeper love, but no such sacrifice exists in this tragedy. All of the characters are subdued against their will for the sake of raw power. There exists no joy or peace in these circumstances, and this work of literature is an overly depressing view of the human condition. How would I "have fun with this text?"
Humans like animals have the freedom to physically do as we please within the limits our bodies set forth, but we humans partake in a freedom that has been set aside soley for us by the grace of our minds. We have mental freedom to think as we please and to defy all the standards set forth before us with our actions but also with our words. In teh words of Rubin Hurricane Carter, "It is very important to transcend beyond the places that hold us." It is this freedom that Promethius exhibits so fully that makes me feel that he is the "most free" despite his physical imprisonment. He speaks of Zeus on page 9 saying, "I unappeased by his charms honey-tongued and unmoved by his merciless threats, will withold from him all that I know." It is also his willingness to comit his deed that makes him the most free. He is the "Forsighted One." He knew that his actions would bring repercussions, but he showed favor to humans and gave us our humanity.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is personal liberty. It is having no boundaries or confinements. On the other hand, slavery is the utmost opposite. Slavery is being forced to follow unquestioningly the commands of another, being bound to another. The freest character in Prometheus Bound is Prometheus himself. Though Prometheus superficially conflicts with the second half of my definition of freedom, mentally and emotionally he satisfies it. In his head, Prometheus does not limit himself. Even though he knew Zeus would punish him severely for giving fire to the humans, Prometheus did not let this stop him. Prometheus kept to his own set of morals and ideals, regardless of consequence. That is a certain type of freedom rarely achieved.
ReplyDelete"...thou must mind the task ordained thee by the Father..."
ReplyDeleteIn Might's opening speech we see the beginning of a wise (free) character. Freedom, much like happiness, stems from acknowledging that which we can control that which we cannot, and attempting to rule the former. For example, a man without legs is not unfree simply because he cannot walk, nor is a man in prison unfree because he cannot visit the outside world. Possibly it is easier to understand if we think about how an individual with legs is not free simply because he has legs, for one day he might lose these legs. All men are, however, capable of ruling their own mind. Imprisoned, legless, free, or legged, all men have control over there disposition. Might's advice in this way is typical of someone who is wise/free. He is advising to submit to what one has no control over.
The problem with asserting that Might, however, is the wisest (most free) character, is that there is little evidence that he practices what he preaches. Yet, because there is evidence that most of the other characters are confined by their material predicaments (Hesphestus is troubled by his task, Prometheus is troubled by his punishment, ect...) I would contest that the very lack of evidence for Might not being free, while it might not make him free in the absolute sense, makes him relatively more free.
Because of the evidence that other characters fail to recognize the constraints inherent in their nature, Might must be considered the most free character based on his advice which suggests he acknowledges his role in life.
Freedom, in its purest form, is the ability to think, say, and do whatever one wishes, free of responsibility or repercussions. Slavery, therefore, is the opposite in the sense that whatever is said or done by one who is enslaved is dictated by another at the threat of negative consequences should the superior not be pleased. In a perfect world (for the superiors, that is), thoughts too would be controlled, but this is, of course, realistically implausible.
ReplyDeleteBy those definitions, all of the characters showed certain levels of freedom, but also certain restraint. Hephaestus' actions were ordered by Zeus and supervised by Might and Violence. But whilst he chained Prometheus, he was not reprimanded for speaking his mind, so that he was only enslaved in his action, not his thought or speech. Similarly was Prometheus bound (pun intended) in only his actions - in this case by physical restraints rather than responsibility to a leader.
Might, Violence, the Oceanids, and Oceanus are all relatively free to do what they want, but are all weary when criticizing Zeus - save, perhaps, for Might and Violence, whose sentiments match those of Zeus. In this way their speech is restricted, even if voluntarily so. In fact, it would seem that Zeus, the most superior of the superiors, is the one who - though not completely free - exhibits the most freedom. Even Might remarks that "liberty is the privilege of Zeus." (3) As ruler, he can do no wrong, for he can simply declare all of his actions as just. In his position he has the power to warp the rules and, thus, reality itself, making him inherently the most free.
I am going to go ahead and define freedom as "the ability to do what one pleases, regardless of the consequences." This does not preclude consequences, rather, it means that the one who has freedom can act in spite of the consequences. He who is a slave is held by his fear of consequences.
ReplyDeleteIn this vein, Prometheus is clearly the most free of the characters; he acts as he sees fit, regardless of the fate he could have seen coming. He admittedly seems to consider himself a slave to Fate, nevertheless, he acts not out of fear, but out of necessity, as he repeatedly says or implies. It is he who feels that necessity, so he still follows his own desires, making him free.
Also, please note the similarity between freedom and courage- both act not without fear of consequences, but in spite of them. However, I do not think that having courage or freedom makes one a virtuous person on the whole. Hitler could have been free, Stalin certainly seemed to be.
Also, this makes Hephaestus the clear winner as most servile character. Might and Violence follow Zeus's rule, but the seem to believe in Punishing Prometheus- after all, to them, he was a traitor. (Please note that I do not note Prometheus's actions as praiseworthy, necessarily, only free. I hold that it can be argued that he
is indeed a traitor.) However, Hephaestus acts against his own will, afraid- a slave to his fears.
Finally, this puts Zeus somewhere in the middle. He does act regardless of how he seems to think others will respond, but the play notes that he acts "harsh" like "every king whose power is new" (2). So, he does act in fear of holding his throne- after all, he usurper of that position, could it not be taken from him? So in that way is he too a servant.
Freedom means you are unobstructed from living your life the way you choose. Slavery is a subjection of a person to another person. Prometheus did as he pleased by giving fire to the humans therefore he had freedom. Although Zeus and the other Gods held him captive, he was still mentally free in the sense that he didn’t limit himself. Even the consequences Zeus threatened did not stop Prometheus form doing as he pleased. Hephaestus seems to be enslaved by bowing to Zeus’s force. He tries to call out Might and Violence on their insensitivity but backs down eventually out of fear. Hephaestus allows fear to enslave him more than Zeus.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to borrow my dictionary widget's definition of "freedom."
ReplyDeletefreedom.
noun; the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
Borrowing this definition and using a bit of common knowledge (slavery as the opposite of freedom), we can say that slavery is the pressure to act, speak, or think as others dictate under penalty of imprisonment (or other form of punishment).
In the first half of the play, I think Prometheus exhibits the most freedom; he demonstrates his belief that he acted correctly in teaching man things that would eventually save mankind from its own destruction (as Zeus would like). Physically, of course, Prometheus is bound and shackled, but mentally and theoretically he is the most free. The Chorus and Oceanus deride him for his defying Zeus, but in his heart he knows that what he did was the right thing for an immortal to do, and eventually Zeus will release him.
In terms of slavery, it seems that the Chorus is the most enslaved. While they agree with Prometheus that his teaching mankind was the right thing to do, they scoff at his decision to defy Zeus (due to what appears to be fear of being shackled themselves).
Freedom refers to a situation where one has the resources and the ability to do what one wants to do, unrestrained by others. Therefore it is easy to see that Zeus seems to have the most freedom. He governs all the other gods and the mortals by his own will; it is an explicit case of “my way or the highway.” He is free to be a tyrant, rule by unjust means and loose nothing, as other characters still adhere to his orders, either because they think that anything else would be “pointless or dangerous.”
ReplyDeleteThis situation enslaves almost all the other characters in the play; enslavement meaning to be forced to act against one’s own will to the point where one feels that one has no control over circumstance. Might actually states to Hephaestus that “Liberty is the privilege of Zeus,” showing that he is so brainwashed to the point where he doesn’t even see autonomy as an option for him. While most of the characters seem to be enslaved by the power of Zeus, Hephaestus stands out. Notice my definition discusses “acting” against one’s will; we see Hephaestus grieve with Prometheus’ situation and show mercy to him, showing that he is indeed free to think what he wants, but unwillingly he still fulfills Zeus’ orders realizing that he has no other choice and hence enslaved in his actions.
Freedom is the ability to live life without boundaries or restraints. In my opinion, no one in this play, thus far, is truly free. Hephaestus and Oceanus are afraid of Zeus. Their fear creates lines that they do not wish to pass, because they fear repercussions. Oceanus clearly states that he wishes to help Prometheus, however, he hesitates because he does not wish to anger Zeus. This alone shows that he is not free to do what he believes is right without having some type of punishment from Zeus. Might and Violence are simply personified concepts. As concepts, they can only act within the bounds of their defined description. Thus, they have little freedom. Prometheus, has no physical freedom. He lies chained to a rock which clearly does not allow much freedom. Lastly, we have Zeus. Although he appears to be the most powerful and free of them all, he too has boundaries. As Prometheus hints at when speaking to the Chorus, Zeus cannot escape destiny. If we do believe in destiny, none of us are truly free. We are all bound to a certain fate.
ReplyDeleteFreedom- the ability to act independently of all others physically or intellectually
ReplyDeleteslavery- determine ones actions based upon the needs and wants of another. the inability to act because of ones own beliefs and desires
To me Prometheus seemed to have the most intellectual freedom. He displayed his freedom despite his situation by refusing agree with the characters that were insistent he was wrong. Prometheus is not enslaved to the power of Zeus like Hephaestus, Oceanus, or the chorus of oceanids. Prometheus is unafraid of the consequences of acting with his individual freedom. His physical bounds show that he is enslaved only to himself (which is freedom) and would not give up his freedom to act independently despite the power of others and others inability to take up their own freedom.
Hephaestus seems to be the most enslaved of all the characters because he's so conflicted but refuses to partake in his freedom because he feels it is his onerous task to obey Zeus because he is his father. Might and Violence seem almost unconcerned with the politics of the situation and seem glad to just do what they do. They don't seem opposed to Hephaestus disobeying Zeus but they also don't seem to care if he does either. They're enslaved because they seem to just take orders and not ask questions. Oceanus is enslaved by his fear and Prometheus sees that right away when he comes to visit him. Oceanus is willing to do anything to keep negative attention off of him and only admitted his disapproval in private.
Someone who is free is able to act as they see fit without being stopped. Someone enslaved is stopped before they can even act. I believe that, using these definitions, Prometheus exhibits the most freedom of any of the characters. His freedom was exercised before the story began, however, when he worked tirelessly and toughtfully to advance the race of man. Bringing the fire to the mortals may have been against the rules, but he did it without being stopped. He succeeded.
ReplyDeleteA bit paradoxically, he is also very obviously enslaved, chained to a rock, never to exercise his free will again. Other painfully enslaved characters include Oceanus and Hephaestus. Hephaestus chains his own kinsman because he is such a slave to Zeus’s will. Oceanus, though he wants to plead on Prometheus’ behalf, is stopped by his fear of Zeus’s wrath.
Freedom can best be defined as exempt from outside influence or control; in other words, the ability to do what one pleases, as long as they are physically capable. Slavery can be defined as the opposite, being unable to do what one pleases because of external influence.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance, it would seem that no on has free will. Prometheus has the ability to of foresight. Thus, if everyone's actions are preordained, there is no free will. This would mean that all character's are enthralled by fate. Yet, since Prometheus' trump card is his ability to advise, and thus change, future events- as noted by his attempt to council Chronus, and eventually council Zeus- there is an imperfect version of fate at best. There are certain inevitable events which must occur, but the outcome of those events can be altered. So, an argument that all characters have no free will can not be substantiated by the text.
Now that the argument that no character has free will has been dismantled, one can chose the most free character. By elimination, I chose Oceanus. Prometheus had free will, but he is now physically and mentally chained to the mountain. He is literally chained to the mountain, and physically chained there because he refuses to "Lay aside thy revenge / And from misfortune seek deliverance". Prometheus has deluded himself into thinking that Zeus will never compromise, and as a result that he must stay tethered to the mountain until the status quo changes. Hephaestus is allowed to speak his mind (barely), but not much more. He still has to bind Prometheus, despite his objections. Since he is coerced into doing something he opposes, it is difficult to chose him as the most free character. Violence and Might are enslaved by both their namesake and by their brainwashed minds. They serve Zeus without remorse or question. The Chorus of Oceanids are under the supervision of Oceanus.
Zeus is the other obvious contender aside from Oceanus. He condemns and punishes Prometheus by his own will, and most other Gods are terrified of him. The major reason that I don't believe that he is the most free individual is because out of all the characters, he is the one who is singled out by Prometheus as going to be defeated by fate, unless Prometheus intervenes.
The remainder is Oceanus. While Oceanus has to influence Zeus, and is thus subservient to Zeus, he is the only character who is not either shackled by fate, brainwashing or delusion. He chooses to debate with Zeus over Prometheus' punishment, and he is not under the direct supervision of Zeus either. So, while one cannot argue that Oceanus is entirely free willed, he is certainly more-so than the other characters.
First of all, I certainly see why this text is one of Dr. Layne's favorites; I enjoyed it very much and I think it has more to say on the self and the good life than The Iliad.
ReplyDeleteMoving on, freedom is the ability to make one's own choices as one pleases. I wouldn't say the ability to make choices uninfluenced, but the ability to take in all internal and external influence that concerns one and balance it out to a choice that is entirely one's own. To make true freedom this choice must come with the knowledge that one can fully carry out the decision to see the consequences with full personal responsibility for them, be it good or bad.
Therefore, Prometheus exhibits the most freedom thus far. His choice to enlighten mankind fits all the criteria I laid out above, and in addition to that, he remains mentally free while physically in bondage because he has already made another choice- that he will free himself by using the power he has over Zeus. Having made this choice, he has nothing but to wait for his chance, and so he is free and surprisingly content in his captivity, because he has weighed all internal and external influences and made, on his own, a choice about his future that satisfies him.
Zeus is not free because he is a slave to fate, which is self explanatory, and applies to all except Prometheus because he has the gift of foresight. But Zeus is also not free because he is trapped by his position of power. Fear of losing power, desire to keep and expand his power, and the uncontrollable pride that makes him want to flex his newfound power are all external influences invading his process of decision making.
The others are not free because of Zeus, plain and simple. Oceanus, in successfully carrying out his choice to come visit Prometheus, comes closer ot freedom than Hephaestus, but ultimately neither can perpetrate an act of true free will due to their fear. I don't believe that Might and Violence are free, either. They are just as bound to Zeus' whims as anyone else, they are just lucky that at this moment Zeus' desires match their natures. If that ever changes, they too will suffer in captivity.
The last, and most interesting character, is Mankind. Prometheus wanted to free Man, by giving them the tools to carry out decisions and improvements for themselves. His gift of "blind hope" is a gift of freedom, the gift of something to strive for, which nurtures personal choice. But even with these things, Man is still slave to fate and the gods. The gift Prometheus did not give Man- "foreknowledge of his fate"- leaves man's choices all clouded by uncertainty and dependence on the gods, augurs, signs of birds and entrails, etc. The necessity of these practices ro get an "ok" on everything Man does cancels out most of the freedom provided by tools and hopes.
The reading brought up an interesting point for me, kind of an age old question: "Are conscious beings truly free--having the ability to act and think independently of any other entity--or is everything ultimately decided for us, like some kind of large-scale puppet show?" Slavery, of course, would be the opposite of freedom--lacking an ability to act and think freely of any other entity. I see freedom and slavery on a sliding scale.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading about Prometheus, I saw all types of freedom: freedom of thought and action through Prometheus, freedom of authority through Zeus, and the freedom to know future events (also through Prometheus, and to some extent, through the other gods--for even Zeus could not change what the Fates had determined).
Something interesting I found about the text was that the concept of free will seemed to be present, even though predetermined fate was common knowledge among the characters in the tragedy.
My first instinct is to say that the Fates, therefore, act with the most freedom, as they are the only ones whose actions are not based on that of an authority. Technically, as immortal beings, they are under the control of Zeus, but he cannot interfere with their determinations. For this reason, they are said to be feared by all the gods.
However, thinking further, I believe Prometheus acts the most freely. With the gift of foresight, he can see the futures of individuals. He is painfully aware of the Fates and their power. And yet, he acts of his own will. In a way, he claims his own freedom by breaking the rules, something none of the other characters do. Oceanus has Prometheus promise to take Zeus's punishment without bringing others (i.e. Oceanus) into the fray. Might and Violence act according to Zeus's orders. Even Hephaestus, who shows some mercy for men and Prometheus, ultimately carries out Zeus's orders. Though Prometheus must endure his punishment--painful, even though he is immortal--he stands beside his decision, taking however much free will he has and turning it into a tool through which to act.
In my opinion, freedom means having the ability to do anything that you think needs to be done, or anything you feel you want to do or say.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Prometheus is being punished in the first half of the book, I believe that he exhibits the most freedom because he does what he thinks needs to be done, even though he knows his fate is not good. He believes in his heart that what he's doing is right, even though he knows that no one else will agree with him.
I believe that everyone, even Prometheus, shows some signs of enslavement. The most obvious are the people below Zeus who must carry out his wishes and orders. Even Prometheus, though, is unwillingly enslaved by his own fate. While the other characters are as well, Prometheus is painfully aware of his own and even though he tries to not let it effect him and his decisions, it's still there for all eternity, and he knows it.
I think of freedom as a set of circumstances which are conducive to the execution of willpower. The concept of Absolute freedom as I perceive it is completely unfathomable in application to life simply because people's willpowers can mutually exclusive. So, who is the most free in Prometheus? What is the most valuable freedom?
ReplyDeleteAll actions are rooted in some sort of psychiatric stimulation, conscious or otherwise. Therefore, it is my contention that the most basic and essential type of freedom is the ability to think unsuppressed. For example, Prometheus is very free in this regard, he does not let fear of punishment prevent him from doing what he believes is good. When Prometheus gives the arts to mankind, he demonstrates his state of liberty; Zeus has no power over his train of thought. In fact, Prometheus acknowledges that he had every intent to be chained up; he "willed to sin, I willed it, I confess. My help to man brought suffering to myself."
Slavery's role to me exudes a bit of irony. The two characters I see enslaved the most are also the two most powerful: Zeus and Oceanus. Prometheus possess a leg-up on Zeus because of this slavery to fate. We don't know what Zeus' fate is because Prometheus "keep(s) it veiled most jealously- [but] by guarding that shall I from these fell bonds and agonies escape." Prometheus holds something powerful enough to escape, and chooses to use it, whereas Zeus, though his existence is what has bound Prometheus and is what will free him, has no role in any of it. He is but a puppet. A big, scary, lightning bolt throwing puppet (Keep out of reach of children).
And Oceanus seems enslaved to the demands of an equestrian. He simply cannot talk to Prometheus any longer, because his "winged horse impatiently fans the smooth paths of heaven, and travel-tired in his own stall would gladly bend the knee." Aww. The horsey needs a nap.
Freedom is having the ability to make decisions for one's self and to do/say/think/be whatever you want. Slavery is doing what someone else tells you for fear of punishment, humiliation, or other negative conequences. There are two types of freedom and slavery; physical and mental. The two types are often combined, especally when it comes to slavery, but this does not mean that there is no differentiating between the two.
ReplyDeleteWhile Prometheus is physically chained to a slab of rock, he is the only character in the first part of the play who thinks entirely for himself, which makes him the character who exhibits the most freedom. Prometheus disobeys all the most powerful Gods in order to do what he thinks is just. In presenting man with fire, Prometheus acts completely of his own free will.
One could also argue that someone being held captive can remain free if they are mentally able to do so. Of course, I'm not exactly sure about this but for a moment I will argue confidently to get my point across; Freedom exists entirely in the mind. There is no physical freedom or slavery, only the opinion that such things exist. For example, if I chain a dog to a tree in my front yard it may look as if I have taken away that dog's freedom. But, if the dog, let's call him Spot, is perfectly content in my front yard on a short leash, who's to say I have taken anything away from him at all? Suppose Spot believes that he let me tie him to that tree; that it was really his idea in the first place. Even if Spot is physically tether to a tree he can still have metal power over himself. If he is not scared of me or fear that I will bring some horibble consequence upon him, if I am not telling him what to think or believe, and if I am not forcing my opinions on him, then he still mentally has the power to make his own decisions. But, the rope he is tied to can get in the way of his decision making if he decides to walk out further than his leash-radius allows.
Again, I'm not entirely sure how to define freedom and slavery and there are some grey areas. I'm not trying to claim that my argument is definitively correct.
Freedom is the ability to act or think without hindrance. Every character in the first half of Prometheus Bound is restrained in some way. Zeus is bound by his title and his power, and it is commented that not even he acts freely. Hephaestus is bound by the will of Zeus to perform an act he is not convinced is the correct course of action and Prometheus says on page 10, "tyranny, it seems, is never free". Might and Violence are also constrained by Zeus's word. Even Oceanus and the Chorus, who seemingly are free, are confined to Zeus's rules and Oceanus, despite his eagerness to help Prometheus, is too intimidated and smart to actually act.
ReplyDeleteBecause slavery can be mental and physical, and all characters in Prometheus Bound are somehow enslave, the most free character is Prometheus. Despite the fact that he is physically chained, his mind is still free and he has no regret for his actions that put him in his current situation, he even speaks about how after he is let out of his confinements, he will continue to aid the Mortals. In mental strength, there lies freedom, because the mind can make any situation bearable, and Prometheus says, while he is chained on page 6, "I must bear the will of Fate as lightly as i may, and learn the invincible strength of Neccesity." It was this quote that made me choose Prometheus as the most free character. He knows that he must persist through his punishment, and once he is done, Zeus willing, he can continue doing what he feels is right.
The most free individuals in history were those who chose to do what they thought was right, and even in captivity, there work continued, just like Prometheus. He has given man the gift of fire, the tool by which all advancements will come, and Prometheus says that after his troubles his "present sorrows [will] mourn no more, step down to earth and to my future fortunes give ear and learn all things from end to end." This shows he intends to prevail and continue his work.
I don't actually have a personal definition of freedom or slavery so I looked it up in the dictionary. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, freedom is "the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action" and "liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another". In terms of both definitions, Zeus (though he does not physically appear in the first half of the text) exhibits the most freedom. All of the characters that appear in the first half of the text are subject to his will. For example, Hephaestus must chain Prometheus, however reluctant he is, because Zeus commands it. "Howbeit necessity compels me so that I must dare it, and our Zeus commands with a most inevitable word." (Aeschylus 3) Prometheus, himself, is in chains because Zeus commands it as a punishment for stealing fire to give to man. Strength states, "There is none free except King Zeus." Based on the words of the characters in the text, I believe that Zeus exhibits the most freedom.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is the ability to act, speak, and think as one believes they should, regardless of the consequences. Slavery on the other hand, is submission to the will or ideals of another in opposition to one’s own beliefs, desires, or needs.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Zeus seems to exhibit a fair amount of freedom. It seems like he just does whatever the hell he wants. He wanted to be ruler of Olympus, and he was able to achieve that, despite his opposition from the Titans. Now, he wants Prometheus chained to a rock and was able to force Hephaestus to do that for him regardless of his beliefs. Nothing says freedom like taking it away from someone else.
However, I would argue that Prometheus is the freest, despite Zeus’s best efforts to enslave him. He is mentally free because he follows his own beliefs, but physically he is chained to a rock. However, one could still argue that Prometheus is completely free because he knew the consequences of exercising his mental freedom, yet still chose to act in a way that he knew would get him chained to a rock. So in essence, he chose to be chained to that rock, which makes him physically free. Even though one could argue that Prometheus is still a slave to fate, I think that he is not. He see’s his destiny and embraces it. If he fought against it he would be a slave because it is not his will, but he has made fate he own will and this decision has kept him free.
In relation to Prometheus, Hephaestus is the most enslaved. Zeus forces him to do something against his personal beliefs and Hephaestus is unwilling to oppose him. This submission and unwillingness to fight for his friend’s freedom, let alone his own, makes him the most enslaved of any character. However, he is not alone in his slavery. Might and Violence are also slaves to Zeus’s will. Though it may not seem like it because they follow willingly, they too are slaves. They are enslaved because anytime Zeus sees fit to make them do something, whether they agree with it or not, they will be forced to do it. Anytime one submits to a tyrant, whether they agree with them or not, they become slaves because a tyrant demands that one replace their personal beliefs with those of the tyrant. This is what makes Might and Violence slaves as well.
Freedom is the ability to act and think without restraint. Conversly a person is enslaved when some internal or external factor prohibits them from following their desires or wishes. Prometheus seems to be the obvious choice, but in the context of this story, as opposed to a prequel, he is not. He is both physically and mentally enslaved. Physically, he is bound by unbreakable bonds, but the mental bond is the stronger because it is self-enforced. Prometheus has two opportunities to escape his physical constraints (Oceanus and Hermes) but disavows both to hold on his martyrdom and vengeance. He prefers the moanings of his martyrdom and the long awaited vengeance over the chance to do more good or to pursue another end. The most free character is Oceanus to me. He rushes to his friend when he hears of his imprisonment and offers to petition the greatest power, at possible cost to himself, for Prometheus' freedom. He does fear Zeus and Zeus' wrath but that was not why he didn't act. He witheld because Prometheus ordered him not to for the reasons I discussed earlier. Having fear does not impede freedom for it can be overcome. Oceanus then leaves both free physically, mentally, and of conscience.
ReplyDeleteFreedom, in my opinion, is to not be bound by limitations. If there is an obstacle in life, then you have the choice to either avoid it or take it head-on. I believe that freedom is directly correlated with choices and decisions in life. Some believe it is the ability to be able to make choices, and, as always, our choices impact our lives. Slavery, on the other hand, is to be bound by a limitation. To break free of slavery means to break free of the obstacles in life.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Prometheus seems to be the most free of any of the characters. Of course, he is physically chained to a rock (that kind of sounds funny), but mentally, he is as free as a bird flying through the sky. He knowingly knew that Zeus would strike him down if he helped the "inferior" humans, but he gave them fire. In this sense, he was free by overcoming the fear of Zeus and actually overcoming his own fear (the obstacle). He basically stuck it to the man, and in this case, he became mentally free. Meanwhile, everyone else pretty much stayed under Zeus's control and did not try to defy him. They were chained down by his power, and they feared him. Ultimately, they were not mentally free as they were always bound by Zeus. Compared to the other characters, Prometheus was a free being who was spiritually enlightened.
I personally define "freedom" as in the privilege to do what one pleases without constraint. However, that does not necessarily mean that these free actions do not have consequences, whether good or bad. For example, Prometheus, a god, had the power to do what he pleased, but had it all taken away because another god (Zeus) did not approve of these actions. Thus, we have an example of freedom with consequences. Oceanus also seems to exert lots of freedom, having the liberty to travel as he pleases (as evidenced by him traveling on some sort of bird to visit Prometheus o.O). However, the one character who seems to have unlimited founts of freedom is (perhaps obviously) Zeus.
ReplyDeleteHis freedom comes from the fact that he is ruler of the gods, thus the most powerful god (so it seems). He is the one who determines one's freedom. For example, as he has taken away Prometheus's freedom, or given power to his fellow gods. Another example can be how he can even order other gods what to do, as in having Hephaestus chain down Prometheus. Thus, it seems to me that power, or level of authority, is synonymous or proportional to amount of freedom. It also seems to me that one's freedom is primarily determined by whoever has power and authority oneself.
Freedom means the ability to do whatever you want, even if your actions have potentially severe consequences. I can't call Prometheus a free character because he is physically in chains; it doesn't matter to me how "mentally free" he might be from the other gods. I guess Oceanus exhibits the most freedom, because he is choosing to help Prometheus when he doesn't have to, and when he knows he would probably be punished by the gods for helping him.
ReplyDeleteI think that every character is enslaved; no character is truly free. Prometheus is fettered, the gods are controlled by Zeus, and Zeus is destined to his Fate, which he cannot change. Although the title is "Prometheus Bound", I wouldn't find it surprising if it were just "Bound".
I define freedom as being able to do as one pleases even though the consequences for this action are severe. Slavery, on the other hand, is behaving in certain way because of one’s fear of the consequences from his actions. I find that so far the person that is the most free to be Prometheus because even though he may be stuck to a mountain, he is emotionally and spiritual free. Being foreseeing, Prometheus knew that giving to the humans would have dire consequences, yet he decided that it would be best for the people to have it and did not care about Zeus’s wrath. Even as Prometheus is punished, it does seem that he will give in to Zeus’s will. Since it seems that everyone else in the play is bowing down to Zeus’s power, I believe that Prometheus is the character that is the most free.
ReplyDeleteMight and Violence are limited to the attributes that are implied in their names and to the will of Zeus, therefore I cannot define them as being free. Although Hephaestus does not agree with what is happening to Prometheus, he still follows what Might tells him to do Hephaestus fears the wrath of Zeus. Oceanus comes in saying that he will free Prometheus but reluctant to do so because too is scared of Zeus’s wrath. Even though Zeus may appear to have the power to do whatever it is he feels like, Zeus knows that his actions have already been drawn out by what the Fates want and therefore, he does not have any true freedom. These circumstances all lead me to believe that Prometheus is the most free character.
I believe that freedom is the ability to act, speak, or feel of one’s own accord without fear of retribution. By that definition, Zeus is the only character in the first half that is truly free. The Titans and Zeus’s fellow gods live in fear that their words or actions will displease Zeus, and they will be punished according to his ruthless will. Though he is a new ruler, he has already demonstrated his cruel nature by punishing Prometheus for essentially saving mankind. The other gods do Zeus’s dirty work, chaining Prometheus down and hesitating to verbally protest the injustice. They are all slaves to Zeus’s feelings. In some sense, however, Prometheus is also free. He is clinging to the fact that Zeus will one day need his help and he will be freed. Though he is physically restrained and in an incredible amount of pain, he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, however faint it flickers.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is defined by Dictionary.com as: "the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint," or "exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc." Now, after digesting these definitions and regarding the text, two individuals stick out in my mind. On the surface, it is Zeus who exhibits the most freedom in the first section of the play. He chains a titan for crimes against him, he forces servitude of those around him (such as Hephaestus, Might, etc.); even Might states: "Liberty is the privilege of Zeus." Pretty straight-forward in that sense. However, look at the second definition: "exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc."
ReplyDeleteIn regard to this definition, Zeus's example of freedom shatters from a small bit of dialog between Chorus and Prometheus:
"Is Zeus himself less powerful than [the Fates and the Furies]?"
"He could not alter that which is ordained."
"What is ordained for Zeus save power eternal?"
In these few lines, I realized something: even Zeus cannot fight when fate has in store. This puts Zeus under someone's control, and does not fit this definition of freedom. In my eyes, Zeus no longer has the most freedom. Is it the Fates and the Furies that have all the freedom.
Freedom is the ability to make a decision without being acted upon by an outside force. This is volition. Because Prometheus' values are not chosen consciously, and he acts on his values (friendship and love namely) he is not free. I argue that true freedom, therefore, can only exist in a vacuum, i.e., in a situation where nothing, including a value system, makes your decision for you. Even Zeus, although he has no higher authority to answer to, acts out of anger. He is guided by whim. He does not choose when, or who angers him, and his response is automatic: revenge. Prometheus is likely considere the most intellectually free by many, because he ignores what consequences his actions may have, and chooses for himself. He ends up chained to a rock. Aeschylus intentionally shows us the impracticality of freedom through this. I go a step further to say this: take away the rock, take away the chains. They are built in to our existence. Prometheus (and all others) are the effect of a cause, and so are their actions. We are all volition less. ("Dust in the Wind" anybody?)
ReplyDeleteIf one looks at freedom as the ability to act as one sees fit without fearing repercussions from the external world, I would claim that Prometheus is the character who shows the most freedom. He acts as he believes is right, not how society and rules and laws command. He goes beyond the boundary set by Zeus' laws because he does not agree with them. Prometheus has mental and emotional freedom, and shows that he is truly free because he acts upon these thoughts and feelings. However, the chorus characters are the most slave-like characters, because while they at times agree with Prometheus, they do not act upon their feelings in fear of Zeus' reaction.
ReplyDeleteThe character which exhibits the largest amount of freedom does not even appear in this scene, but he is mentioned on numerous occasions. Throughout the first part of this story, Zeus is primarily referred to as a tyrant because he reigns over all the gods and mortals. Being a tyrant grants certain privileges few others can even dream of, most importantly, the privilege of doing anything the tyrant pleases. Having the freedom to do whatever one wants without being too concerned of the consequences is the ultimate freedom one could ever wish for. Every other character in the story and in the world itself is enslaved. They all answer to the one tyrant who reigns over everything else. Although the appearance of freedom may exist to those who are not physically enslaved like Prometheus, their minds and actions will always be governed by a superior and thus will never be truly “free”.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is the ability to perform a physical or mental action without outside constraint. After thinking about the characters and which is the most free, I will have to agree with Austin. The Fates, while they are not mentioned very much, are described as being this indomitable force which not even Zeus can control. Free from being controlled by anything. The most enslaved character of the reading is definitely the chorus. I don’t remember in the entire reading when they had a single independent thought. Everything the chorus says and does seems to be controlled by either Prometheus or by fear of Zeus.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of freedom, I think of someone's ability to do what they please. In that sense of the word, I believe Zeus has the most "freedom" because he can command others to do as he pleases. His word trumps all others, and no matter how unwilling Hephaestus may be, he has to chain Prometheus to a rock because Zeus is all-powerful in the ancient Greek word. Zeus is "free" to do as he pleases because no one else is powerful enough to stand against him.
ReplyDeleteIf I may offer, however, another word that is often used as a synonym to freedom, I can offer a different standpoint. That word is liberty. When I think of liberty, I think of those that are free in spirit or mind regardless of the state of their body. Using this definition, it is difficult to image a character with more liberty than Prometheus. First of all, he completely disregards the fact that he will be greatly punished. He knows exactly what is going to happen but he is free from the constraints of fear and uncertainty. Also, the results of his actions carry on even after he is chained down. No matter what Zeus does to Prometheus, man will still have fire, and they will still continue to evolve as a result. Furthermore, Prometheus is the only character who freely speaks his mind without fear. I therefore think that Prometheus has the most liberty because, regardless, of his physical predicament, he effects the world around him more than the other characters.
Ironically, I think that the gods (not including Zeus) are the most enslaved. None of them work according to their own will. Hephaestus is forced to follow the will of Zeus, and even Oceanus cowers before the almighty lightening god. They may not be physically entrapped, but they do not have control over their own words and actions because they are trapped by fear and subordination to Zeus.
Prometheus seems to display a good deal of freedom in that he's not afraid of Zeus and, knowing the future, is free to face everything with a bit of preparedness. He doesn't cow down to anyone, but he's also not free in that he's stuck in chains on a rock--though he did willingly with knowledge choose this fate. And there's some talk of fate in the play but it feels a little muddled since the people do seem able to avert their "fate," so I'm not sure what's going on with that but I wouldn't say that anyone is a victim of his fate since they can change it. Prometheus might see how things will go but still Zeus could, possibly, avoid his son's patricide if he doesn't wait till Heracles frees him. I can't define a term like freedom; Prometheus and Io obviously are bound by their chains and cowship, tortured by their eagles and gadflies, but they're free at least in that they are breathing. Though alternately you could view death as a freedom, so...
ReplyDeleteThe freest character in the first part could probably be Power; he's pretty sure of himself and he just does it, no looking back for him. Then again he sounds kind of stony. And Violence doesn't talk so much, which might indicate he's less blah-blah-blah taunting and unsure, having to prove himself, than Power.
My favorite characters in the first part are probably the naiads; they sounded cool, I'd like to see them on stage, and then Oceanos too. But the naiads my fulfill my current feelings on freedom best, they go wherever they want, they're safe in the sea, they have a good cry over Prometheus, feel terrible that he is up there, and then they get to go home; they are almost Olympians in their freedom, except with more loving sentiment. They sound beautiful. If they're not free, I don't know what's binding them. I see in the comment above mine, he says that "because while they at times agree with Prometheus, they do not act upon their feelings in fear of Zeus' reaction." They're Greek, they do what works. A bunch of pretty women who apologize for being barefoot aren't going to overthrow Zeus, maybe with some very strange stratagem involving luring him down into the waters but that wouldn't occur to them, so they are free of any doubts as to their own abilities. They accept life as it is and work in its bounds, which for a sensible person are really very wide. I'm jealous of the Naiads or Oceanos; they seem very happy and free overall.
But the freest person I guess probably is unlike any of these characters, a free person is probably somebody who just loves and has a strong desire for the things around him as well as a little something more. Yeah, I'm changing my mind, back to what it used to be long while back; a free person is someone who has a lot of desire and wants much too too much, like Prometheus who's committed to his whatever he's got or like Aeschylus or Homer who are just so attached to life and desirous of that whatever it is they want so much, they want it so much and they are free. I don't know, everybody's free. Sorry, I'll try to be more coherent soon.
I just wrote an epic long post, gigantic and it didn't go through. I am very mad. very. But here's a lackluster recap: vaguely:
ReplyDeleteI don't remember what I said, I said freedom is a hard work to define, it depends on perspective, blah blah blah blah blah; but I was beginning to rethink my perspective, or get one instead of having the words float aimlessly and interchangeably through time, and so I can answer some of these questions. I started to say at the end, which is freshest in my mind, that a free person is someone who is very attached to life and desirous of it, someone who's almost too desirous like Prometheus is of whatever it is he's wanting. I said other free people were men like Homer or Aeschylus who were very much attached to their work, love life and are desirous enough of something, whatever that thing is, to write so beautifully of life. You could also say they wrote honestly of life, but I'm not sure that's necessarily required, and I don't know what honesty means anymore either. But Homer and Aeschylus have gotten to know life well enough that anyone who hears them can point and say they speak honestly of it but now I've gotten to continue from where my last, forgotten essay left off.
Roughly:
Prometheus is kind of free though he's in chains, he chose his fate willingly and with knowledge, he's very much attached to his whatever it is righteousness and maybe that makes him happy enough even when the eagle bites.
I'd said something like Power and Violence were very free cuz they don't look back, are very sure of themselves, and Violence even more so than Power cuz Power has some constant need to chatter as if he weren't so sure of himself whereas Violence is silent.
The naiads were my favorites in this first half, they were beautiful, I said I'd like to see them on stage. I said they seemed to have pretty happy lives, they're friends with Prometheus and are sad with tears, rush up when they hear that hammering; they seem to really know their place and know themselves very well, in general they like their lives. Look how beautiful they seem. And then I'd said something like, If they're not free, I don't know what binds them? And I saw that the guy above me--who is now three post above me--said, "the chorus characters are the most slave-like characters, because while they at times agree with Prometheus, they do not act upon their feelings in fear of Zeus' reaction." And I rebutted that they're Greeks, they do what works. It's unlikely a bunch of pretty girls who apologize that their feet are bare, are going to be able to overthrow the mighty lightning bearer, king of heaven. Maybe if they're lured him to the waters with their charms and I don't know from there, but they're free of that responsibility, it's not their place to overthrow monarchs, it doesn't concern them. They are freely in their own lives and living that, not some foreign slapstick role. It's not being free to always feel like you should be doing something else that's stupid and which you are probably not fit for and which maybe shouldn't even be done.
I said a couple things about some other stuff but that's no one's loss except a while of my time. Goodnight and good morning.
Freedom is defined in terms of the physical and mental/emotional realm. I believe the latter to be more important, the ability to make one's own choices without fear or outside controls, but that freedom of will does not do much good for anyone else if it cannot be carried out.
ReplyDeleteChorus: Who is the pilot of Necessity?
Prometheus: The Fates triform, and the unforgetting Furies.
The only free character(s) are the Fates, for they make whatever they want to happen so. Kratos nor Oceanus nor Zeus can change what destiny has written; the Fates are the ones in part 1 that are truly able to choose anything based on their own will- and they choose ev-er-ything. Prometheus seems to be free, as he has the gift of foresight and stands up to Zeus on occasion; however, he still subjects himself to being shackled to a mountain because of what the future holds for him. This perhaps makes him the least free of all, because he lives much of his life based on a predestined timeline, altering many of his decisions. Granted, this will ultimately give him physical freedom, but how many more options would he have had without his knowledge of the future?
The human race seems next in line for freedom to me even though they are by far the most controlled. The thing that makes them free is their lack of responsibility, the lack of knowledge. In Prometheus Bound, mortals seem unaware of the predetermined fate they have, making all of their will- at least in their own mind- their own. They are too insignificant to be entirely tuned in with the boundaries surrounding their existence. They do not receive the punishment of obtaining fire, metal, or the arts, Prometheus does.
I'm not writing a post to this. I am very very upset. I just wrote two gigantic epic posts and both were deleted. I think they were too long to go through. I feel like an idiot. Just as I pressed submit this second time I thought wait wait, but then it was too late. You missed out, the second post was pretty funny. I'm not trying a third. I don't care. Though I wrote some pretty good things. It was really good, especially the second time around. But I'm going to sleep.
ReplyDeleteWithout over-analyzing this work, i would like to state my opinion. On the surface it would appear that Prometheus is not free because he is literally bound in chains. However, looking at the next level i believe that he was the only freed character. Freedom is an idea. On can argue that nobody is truly free because of fate, but i think that is just the talk of defeat. If you can look at yourself and believe that you are making your decisions on your own will, then you are free. Prometheus acts willingly and regardless of what he knows about the future, he still proceeds. I think that Hephaestus is enslaved because although he regrets his present actions, he still follows what Might tells him to do since he fears Zeus. Might and Violence are limited to the attributes that are implied in their names. Oceanus is also enslaved by Zeus’s wrath.
ReplyDeleteFreedom is a very hard concept to grasp in this story, seeing that everyone is ultimately chained to fate. Prometheus for one is not only literally chained to a rock for his wrong doing, but also metaphorically chained to his future, because he doesn't want to utilize his power to change his fate. However, the only thing holding him back from his free future is his myopic vision, saying that his future is set and wont change unless Zeus befriends him. Zeus, being the high and mighty tyrant he is, would more than likely never befriend anyone due to his sheer arrogance. Everyone is a slave to his own personality and the effects they entail. The only thing free here is the fates and the paths that they can take.
ReplyDeleteI would define freedom as the ability to choose your own actions and to be able to act them out without fear of any kind of retribution. I think the person with the most freedom is obviously Zeus. Everyone fears Zeus, and through that fear, Zeus is able to do whatever he pleases. No one will defy Zeus's will and go unpunished.
ReplyDeleteTo be enslaved is to have your actions be submerged by the will of another. If someone takes away your ability to act, they are enslaving you. Everyone in this book is basically enslaved to Zeus by their fear of him, Prometheus chose to challenge this fear, and thus was chained, but maybe it's alright, because though he is physically free to do what he pleases, I think he may have found an inner freedom, where he can think and believe whatever he may like.
I think that the humans are the most free. Although they have the least power objectively, they are also the least embroiled in the politics and machinations of the gods. And, for the most part, they are blissfully unaware of the forces influencing their lives. They are also relatively powerless to influence the lives of others (compared to the gods). Because of this, they lack responsibility for fates besides their own, and need not check their actions to protect others as the gods often must. They can and do act according to their own desires. Furthermore, these actions tend to appear insignificant to those with the power to check them, so the humans are rarely forced to do things they do not want to. That is not to say that the gods hold no sway over them. They certainly do, but the god's influence tends to be exerted through invisible means of which the humans remain blissfully unaware. Thereby, humans retain the feeling of freedom even as the gods play with their fates. Can any of us really claim greater freedom than that?
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