Prometheus The Fall Myth

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Pages: 4

This brief myth is an interpretation of heaven's history and the creation of humans. “The Fall" is one of the archetypes explored within this tale and can be seen in the punishment of Prometheus, who deceived the gods for the welfare of mankind. After the creation of this new race, Prometheus strove to make men surpass all the other creatures and beasts of earth. Because men had no "protective covering" that shielded them from dangers, he stole for them fire. "[...] and then he went to heaven, to the sun, where he lit a torch and brought down fire, a protection to men far better than anything else, whether fur or feathers or strength or swiftness" (69). Still focused on his intent to aid the human race, he tricked the gods into taking only the inedible …show more content…
"Prometheus had not only stolen fire for men; he had also arranged that they should get the best part of any animal sacrificed and the gods the worst" (70). When, finally, he refused to identify which of Zeus' future sons should displace and overthrow the reign of the gods, Zeus was angered and elevated the severity of his already-given punishment. For this, Prometheus was not only chained to a large boulder-sized rock; an eagle came also daily to tear and eat at his liver. His liver regrew at the end of each day and so this was his eternal suffering. This particular excerpt, focusing only on Prometheus and the inflictions of his judgment “[...] describes a descent in action from a higher to a lower state of being [...]" (Ref Paper; 2). He is exiled in a form of