Prometheus Bound is a short, powerful read. Written by Aeschylus, the play tells of Zeus, the new king of gods and men, chaining the titan Prometheus to a rock. It is a wonderful play on the nature of liberty, and we explored it with Dr. Jared Zimmerer of Benedictine College.
Attached is a 22 Question Guide (11-pages, 5000+ words) to explore Prometheus Bound.
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Why should we read Prometheus Bound?
Prometheus Bound is the story of man and civilization. Within the contrast of Prometheus’ rebellion and Zeus’ tyranny, Aeschylus provides a narrative that explores the concepts of liberty and purpose. It is a story of human nature—of the identity of man and the role of technology in shaping that identity.
As the conversation with Dr. Zimmerer and Dcn. Garlick highlights, the play “tells us about human nature” by exploring Prometheus as “an anti-hero” who defies Zeus’ tyranny and embodies our natural desire to rebel against oppressive authority. The lines of good and evil, however, are not straightforward in Prometheus Bound—and many characters must make difficult decisions and compromises.
