Prometheus Bound Characters by Aeschylus

Major Characters

Prometheus

Prometheus is the central character and protagonist of Prometheus Bound. He is a Titan god known for his intelligence, foresight, and compassion for humanity. Prometheus defies Zeus by stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans, symbolizing knowledge, progress, and civilization. His punishment is to be chained to a desolate mountain, where he suffers endlessly but remains defiant against Zeus’s tyranny. Prometheus represents rebellion, wisdom, and sacrifice.

Zeus

Zeus is the ruler of the Olympian gods and the unseen antagonist of the play. Though he never appears on stage, his immense power and harsh rule dominate the entire story. Zeus’s punishment of Prometheus shows his tyrannical nature and desire to maintain control over both gods and humans.

Io

Io is a mortal princess and one of Zeus’s lovers. In the play, she encounters Prometheus while wandering in suffering. Zeus transformed her into a cow to hide his affair from his wife, Hera. Io’s endless suffering mirrors Prometheus’s torment, showing how both gods and mortals endure punishment under Zeus’s rule.

Okeanos

Okeanos is the Titan god of oceans and streams. He visits Prometheus and tries to persuade him to reconcile with Zeus. His character represents caution and diplomacy, offering a contrasting voice to Prometheus’s defiance.

Hephaistos

Hephaistos is the god of fire and blacksmithing. He is ordered by Zeus to chain Prometheus to the mountain. Although Hephaistos carries out the task, he does so with reluctance and sympathy, showing the tension between duty and compassion.

Hermes

Hermes is the messenger god and the son of Zeus. He is sent to Prometheus to demand that he reveal a prophecy about Zeus’s downfall. Hermes symbolizes the enforcement of Zeus’s will and highlights the contrast between obedience and rebellion.

Minor Characters

Kratos (Might) and Bia (Force)

Kratos and Bia are personifications of Zeus’s power and violence. They assist Hephaistos in chaining Prometheus to the mountain. Kratos speaks harshly, representing brute strength, while Bia remains silent, showing the unquestioning nature of force.

The Chorus (Oceanids)

The Chorus consists of the daughters of Okeanos, known as the Oceanids. They sympathize with Prometheus and serve as the voice of compassion and reason in the play. Their dialogue helps to convey the emotional and philosophical depth of the story.

Atlas

Atlas is Prometheus’s brother and a fellow Titan. According to mythology, he is condemned to hold the heavens on his shoulders after the Titanomachy, representing another example of suffering under Zeus’s rule.

The Furies

The Furies are female deities of vengeance. They symbolize punishment and the cosmic order, reflecting the consequences of defying the gods.

Hera

Hera is Zeus’s wife and the goddess of family and marriage. Though she does not appear in the play, her jealousy of Io drives much of Io’s suffering.

Argos

Argos is Hera’s servant, tasked with guarding Io. He is often depicted with a hundred eyes, making him an unrelenting watchman.

Typhon

Typhon is a monstrous serpent who challenged Zeus’s power in mythology. Prometheus references Typhon to illustrate the dangers of absolute power.

Heracles

Heracles is the son of Zeus and a hero in Greek mythology. According to the prophecy, he will one day free Prometheus by killing the eagle that torments him and breaking his chains.

Themis

Themis is Prometheus’s mother and the goddess of divine law and order. She grants Prometheus the gift of foresight, which plays a vital role in the play’s themes of knowledge and prophecy.

Hades

Hades is the god of the underworld and Zeus’s brother. He represents death and the inevitable fate that all beings must face.

Conclusion

The characters in Prometheus Bound embody the struggle between power and rebellion, compassion and suffering. Each character plays a unique role in exploring themes of tyranny, defiance, and the search for justice. Through these characters, Aeschylus presents a powerful reflection on the human condition and the consequences of challenging divine authority.