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Overview
Synopsis
Prometheus, the fire-bringer, has been sentenced to a grim punishment by the god Zeus: he is to be chained to a rock with an open wound in his gut, through which an eagle will eat his liver for eternity. Some of the gods sympathize with Prometheus, and others are on the side of the Olympians, but no one can circumvent Zeus’ wrath. As Prometheus suffers, he has a number of visitors: a group of nymphs, who try to comfort him; the ancient god Oceanus, who hopes to make peace between him and Zeus, and the priestess Io, who has her own problems with the new king of Olympus. Prometheus - defiant to the end - endures his punishment, knowing that future generations will bring about a hero who can release him from his bondage.
Show Information
- Book
- Aeschylus
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Scythia, Mythic Times
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Ensemble Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
This tragic play is based on the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus: the primeval god who betrayed the Olympians by teaching humans how to make fire. The story of Prometheus is one of the most ancient pieces of Greek mythology, and was very popular subject matter for Greek artists. The character of Prometheus resembles other “trickster” figures in mythology across many cultures, and the image of Prometheus being chained to the rock as punishment for the uplifting of humankind can be compared to
to read the context for Prometheus Bound and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
In the wild and remote region of Scythia, Prometheus is brought to the site of his punishment. Prometheus is one of the pre-Olympian gods called the Titans, and he’s angered Zeus - who has only recently taken over Mount Olympus - by teaching the humans how to make fire. Zeus’ servants, Kratos (the embodiment of strength) and Bia (the embodiment of violence), bring Prometheus to a craggy mountain top, and force Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking, to forge a chain of supernatural strength
to read the plot for Prometheus Bound and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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