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The Gift of Fire~ Logan Turner

 Okay, can we talk about the story of Prometheus for a second? I'm sure we all knew the story even before reading it, but the story is just so immensely messed up it blows my mind. For one thing, why was Prometheus the only one who liked humans enough to give us the gift of fire? Shouldn't Hephaestus been the one to give humans fire? After all, he is the god of fire. 

Prometheus' punishment is far to extreme as well. I mean, he gives humanity fire, which literally allows us to create civilizations. But no, he is called the "Trickster god" for defying them.  It blows my mind that the Greeks probably saw him as someone evil or chaotic, instead of someone who was benevolent enough to give humans fire. Even still, his punishment is far too brutal and grotesque. I mean, getting his liver eaten LITERALLY every day is just cruel. The thing is, this kind of punishment would only work against a god, so can you imagine what it would be like to have to suffer that kind of torment every day just for being immortal. Whereas normal people would have died already, Prometheus not only continued to live, but his liver healed every day for the cycle to repeat itself. At least he eventually gets freed by Heracles.


Edit: Commented on Haley Riddle's and Caroline Tucker's posts

Comments

  1. Caroline TuckerOctober 19, 2020 at 8:57 PM

    I do think it is a bit extreme. However, I like to wonder why whoever created these stories decided that Prometheus would suffer. I believe it could be because the story is to remind the people how grateful they should be for the gift of fire. It teaches them to not take the gift for granted and make the most they can of it.

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  2. Rachael GregsonOctober 19, 2020 at 9:22 PM

    I really like this point of view. Since he was known to the humans as the "trickster god," maybe Prometheus had alternative motives for gifting humans fire? Maybe it was sort of "groveling" to them to earn their praise? Also, fire as a gift, that was definitely essential to human life during those times, but fire could also be a curse too. Fire could build villages up, or it could burn them down (literally!)

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  3. Braylan StringfellowOctober 19, 2020 at 11:02 PM

    That is definitely a cruel punishment. That is straight up a what the heck moment on the gods part. When I read through that section, I had no idea what was happening, but now I know. I am also very grossed out now too.

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  4. IsabelleOctober 20, 2020 at 8:05 AM

    Interesting point. While Hephaestus is the god of fire, shouldn't the creator of the humans be the one to care for them? It seems like the immortals want humans to go extinct, between punishing the ones who help humans and sending a flood to wipe out the evil within the humans. Also, I am constantly surprised at the grotesque measures taken for punishment! They did Prometheus dirty. Why can't we all join hands and sing "Lean On Me" around a feast?

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