Analysis Of Prometheus And The First People By Olivia E. Coolidge

The stories that as a whole make up the body of ancient Greek mythology have treatedthe complex subject of women in various ways. Although women are generally considered to beweak and subordinate to their husbands, there exist some examples of strong, even heroic womenin certain myths. Such “extraordinary” women include Deianeira, Phaedra, Medea, Penelope,and Clytemnestra, among others. This discussion of women will focus on the latter two,comparing and contrasting them and addressing the ways in which the former is often considereda “good” wife and the latter a “bad” wife. The comparison of Penelope and Clytemnestra willultimately show that, in certain ways, the line between “good” and “bad” wife is rather blurryand the distinction between husband-killing monster and devoted, faithful wife is not as clear-cutas one might expect.The major works in which Penelope and Clytemnestra appear are Homer’s Odyssey andAeschylus’ Oresteia, particularly the Agamemnon. One of the first things to notice about theseworks is that they were both written by men, for men. Given the ancient Greek context, this is arather obvious observation, but it deserves to be pointed out because it should be expected thatmen would have a biased view of women. Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days describe thecreation of Pandora, the first of “the race of women”, as a gift and punishment from the gods.While she is made to “look like a goddess immortal, / having the lovely, desirable shape of a

Analyzing texts is one of the most fundamental and key parts to drawing conclusions about them. Upon analyzing the two versions of the Prometheus myth and the consequent chapters of Genesis, it is quite clear that how one views each piece is subject to their previous knowledge. Today, it is much easier to read Prometheus objectively. It would generally be safe to assume that no one in proximity is a worshipper of Zeus. Reading Genesis is fairly different. Everyone in North America, and most other parts of the world, have at least a very general idea of what Genesis says, or is believed to say. In this essay, the understanding of differences in texts that should be similar will be explored. Although the two versions of the Prometheus and Genesis should essentially be the same, there are many differences within their respective plots and in the language used that make them contradictory and forces the reader to rely heavily on interpretation to try to combat these inconsistencies.

Fromm cited that authority figures insisted obedience as a virtue and disobedience as a vice. He argued that disobedience began human history itself and necessary to continue it. Fromm first discussed a Biblical example: the story of Adam and Eve. Humans were in harmony with nature, yet still in their infancy. Prophets argued it is through man’s “sin” can reason and love developed, and men become human. Only through disobedience were they able to grow into individuals and independence. Fromm drew onto the Greek myth of Prometheus as another source of evolution through disobedience. Prometheus’ theft of fire from the gods laid down the foundations for civilization. Both examples have mankind’s history begin with disobedience. The capacity of disobedience allows humans to evolve.

The story of Prometheus is a myth set in the early days of mankind. Prometheus and his brother, Epimetheus, travel down to earth to wreck havoc ordered by Zeus, the king of the gods. Epimetheus begins with creating animals. Prometheus waits and walks around enjoying the serenity of Earth. This action of not following what he is supposed to do is shown by young Frankenstein when he is more attracted to the writings of Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus. In the modern world, the writings of two fifteenth and sixteenth century scientists are not accepted as scientific facts.

The concept of a box is simple; usually four walls accompanied by a floor and roof to contain or hold an object. However, Shirley Jackson shows in “The Lottery” that a box can be so much more than merely its constructive description. If we chose to look at life and take everything as it appears to be then we may miss an entire world. One’s ability to revel in the deeper wonders of life can provide a truly fulfilling experience. These deeper wonders are all around us, yet, it is the fact that they are so well hidden beneath ordinary means that gives them their rich powers of enlightenment.

When comparing the ancient Greek creation myth of Prometheus and the Judaeo-Christian Adam and Eve story we find some striking similarities in both of them.

In this paper I will be discussing how both males and females were portrayed in the book The Odyssey. While reading the story I was not surprised to see that men were treated as being superior to women. First I will discuss the roles of Odysseus and Telemachus as strong male roles throughout the story. Secondly I will discuss the role of Penelope and the goddess Athena. I will provide examples showing how males were seen as superior to women. I will do my best to paint a picture of how a model Greek male and female would of behaved during this time. If there were any instances where either a male or female violated the rules of behavior according to those times, I will discuss the situation that caused them to act differently. Lastly I will

The book is intended for an academic audience that is already familiar with Greek history and mythology. The book is also valuable to those who are interested in women’s studies, and the role of women in ancient cultures. I found the author’s descriptions of women in ancient Greece to be interesting because she integrates portrayals of women in art, mythology and literature from two eras that depict how women lived and were perceived in early Greek civilization. Understanding how women were portrayed in ancient society helps one to understand the progression of women’s roles in society through

Different mythologies place varying importance on the role of humanity in the universe. One creation myth in particular, Hesiod’s Works and Days, shows important themes common to various mythologies. Hesiod’s Works and Days is especially helpful for analyzing the role of humanity in mythology because it specifically focuses on ethics, on how humans treat one another, and humanity’s place in the world (95). The following essay will analyze this myth and its mythological portrayal of the “corrupt” nature of humans, arguing that our minimal role in such a vast universe

In Greek mythology, Prometheus had a reputation as being a clever trickster and he famously gave the human race the gift of fire and the skill of metalwork, action for which he was punished by Zeus, who ensured every day that an eagle ate the liver of the Titan as he was helplessly chained to a rock. Prometheus, whose name means “Forethought” , was able to see into the future. He warned his brother Epimetheus not to marry Pandora; who’s dowry would eventually unleash evil onto the world. And when Prometheus forewarned Zeus that Thetis son Achilles was destined to be his rival, Zeus released him from bondage in gratitude, ordering Heracles to shoot the eagle and break the god’s binding chains.

When studying the texts of Homer’s “The Odyssey” and Margaret Atwood’s “The Penelopiad”, varying perspectives will arise. In the male dominated era of Greece, men were regarded as valiant warriors, heroes of national importance, and overall superior beings while women were perceived as the subordinate gender, often expected to remain in the household to bear and raise children. Since these concepts are present in both texts, it is apparent that gender roles are the focal point of discussion in Homer’s and Atwood’s literary works. With a more contemporary approach, the role of women can be reassessed as something of great importance and power (Weinbaum 3). The goddesses depicted in “The Odyssey”, Athena and Calypso, each represent an important theme of a woman’s intelligence and power to form bonds and the role in Odysseus’ homecoming, whether it is to provide guidance or cause difficulty. Similarly in “The Penelopiad”, the maids residing in Odysseus’ household use their femininity to build relationships with the suitors and utilize their power to obtain valuable information for Odysseus’ wife Penelope. In addition, Penelope maintains her relationship with her husband and remains faithful to assure a suitable homecoming for Odysseus.

Literature is one of the most powerful and revealing aspects of a society. In ancient Greek society, Homer’s The Odyssey provides a detailed insight into the values of this intricate culture. In particular, this epic discusses the ways in which the deathless gods influence the fates of the mortals. The overall impact of the gods’ power is the mental straining that emerges from the unrelenting conflict of man versus immortal. Likewise, the actions and misfortunes of others also catalyze this extremely significant and powerful mental battle. Homer’s The Odyssey reveals the values of ancient Greece by portraying the intrapersonal struggles between a person’s self-determined honor and his/her worthiness in the eyes of the Gods. This underlying

For this informative report I will attempt to point out the roles women and how they are viewed in ancient Greece. I will then show how these views are present in Homer’s "The Odyssey." How are women, goddess or mortal, conveyed in "The Odyssey?"

It wasn’t until the Greek and Roman empires that gender roles in society really started to widen the gap between males and females. The combination of a growing belief of women as servants and the impact of mythology on culture culminated in a “gender specific code of conduct” (Evans). In Greek mythology (coincidentally written by men), the Hesiod’s Theogony (The Birth of the Gods) played a tremendous role in the status of man and woman (Mason). In Theogony (The Birth of the Gods), Prometheus lives in a world of only men where life was great. There was no work and all leisure. Prometheus makes the Gods

Who was responsible for creating fire to mankind, who was on top of a mountain and had his liver ravaged by an eagle every night? Prometheus. This God was part of a powerful group of Gods called the Titans. Some people who knew what his personality was like might have described him as a trickster, and a troublemaker. However, Aeschylus described Prometheus as a tragic hero. There have been a variety of plays that has been written about his life. Prometheus is a very complex character in Greek Mythology, whose highest accomplishment was creating humans, but how he creates them raises the question; does the end justify the means?