Archetypes In Stories
An archetype is something that is considered to be a typical example of a particular kind of person or thing because it has all its most important characteristics. In the tragedy: Prometheus Bound Prometheus was punished for giving fire to mortals by Zeus. The fire is not only a thing but the seed of knowledge, art and science hence he was bound to a rock, and an eagle-the emblem of Zeus- was sent to eat his liver every day and forever (in Ancient Greece, the liver was thought to be the seat of human emotions). On the other hand, there are stories of Perseus, Theseus, and Hercules and they have similar archetypes compared to Prometheus’ archetypes as well. In the end, they are heroes all of whom have decent features
First of all compare and contrast with Perseus’s story; foreknowledge but remain unresponsive. Prometheus said ‘Since I know what will be in all its particulars, no pain can surprise me. I must bear my fate as lightly as I can’ (105-110) It was like even though Perseus’ grandfather, King Acrisius of Argos, knew that his daughter’s son would kill him he couldn’t kill his daughter. Another common thread is the motif of ‘gift’ Prometheus gifted human beings fire and Perseus wished to kill Medusa and bring back her head as a gift to King.
In the way Prometheus helped humanity to become civilized and have scientific knowledge; Theseus lends a hand to everyone who wants. For instance, he protected Oedipus’ daughters when he died and he took part in the great Calydonian Hunt, when the King of Calydon called upon the noblest in Greece to help him kill the terrible boar. Both Prometheus and Theseus’s son Hippolytus were banished from the land. The reason of why I mentioned Prometheus punished and Hippolytus was exiled from the land because there is same thematic motif,
And last but not least, the archetype of courage-braveness-confidence in both Hercules and Prometheus. Even though Eurystheus gave Hercules twelve impossible tasks he was brave and powerful enough to achieve all of them. And Prometheus was brave although he was known his punishment in return for giving fire to humanity. (‘You are full of confidence and don’t give way -Chorus, 205) Moreover, they are both punished by Zeus. Hercules was punished by Zeus himself. Zeus sent him to Lydia to be a slave to the Queen, Omphale, some say for a year, some for three years. And he felt himself degraded. Prometheus was punished with chained to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains, and every day an eagle came and ate part of his liver.
In conclusion, Prometheus in terms of archetype; in the story of Perseus, Perseus’s father Acrisius, who is king of Argos, with foreknowledge but does nothing to change it and gift motif; Theseus with helpfulness and his son Hippolytus with exile; Hercules with braveness can be associated. At the end of the day even though they were gods or mythological figures, they have the same emotions and archetypes as we, mortals. Whether it was one hundred thousand years ago or nowadays, we all share the same emotions and live in similar conditions. There are moral and didactic stories both in religious books, myths, tragedies, and comedies as well. Therefore as we human beings must read as much as we can and take lessons from them.
