The Greek playwright Aeschylus (about 525 BC-about 456 BC) is regarded as one of the greatest tragic playwrights of his generation. He is often called "the father of Greek tragedy". He is older than Sophocles and euripides, and he is the most popular and influential among all the tragic figures of his time. Aeschylus wrote more than 90 plays; Tragedy and satyr. Unfortunately, except for some fragments, only six complete scripts survived. His most famous extant works include Persia, Seven against Thebes and Agamemnon in the trilogy Orestes. The seventh surviving Prometheus binding is a controversial topic. As a part of the trilogy Freedom and Prometheus and Prometheus Fire angel, it is written around the death of Aeschylus. However, some scholars claim that it was actually written by someone else, probably his son Euphorion.

Aeschylus, the father of Greek tragedy

Aeschylus was born in 520 BC in a noble family in the town of Eliou near Athens. Although he performed in Sicily and created some plays, he will spend his life in Athens. His wife and family are little known; However, his two sons, Euphorion and Euaion, are playwrights. According to the classicist E Hamilton, he was very pious, but a little radical, and abandoned the shackles of traditional Greek religion. The gods in his plays are all regarded as shadows, "questioning how people can be regarded as gods when they are allowed to suffer." (193) For example, Zeus who was bound in Prometheus was portrayed as a tyrant. This is contrary to hesiod's Zeus, who is portrayed as the god of justice. Politically, Aeschylus was a staunch supporter of Athenian democracy and loved freedom and justice. He fought the Persians in marathon in 490 BC and Salamis in 480 BC. It was not until the early 1990s that he began to write, took part in his first competition in 499 BC and finally won his first victory in 484 BC. In the end, it won the first place in 13, second only to Sophocles. He will continue to write until he dies.

Like his contemporaries, his plays are often written for various ceremonies and festivals and performed in outdoor theaters. The purpose of these tragedies is not only to entertain, but also to educate Greek citizens and explore political, social or ethical issues. In addition to a group of singers explaining the movements, there are actors wearing masks and costumes. Just like Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus and King Oedipus by Sophocles, the audience usually knows the story behind the play like the back of their hands.

According to translator and editor D. Grene, Aeschylus played an important role in "developing tragedy to the peak of drama and moral power". (2) Before Aeschylus, there was only one actor in the dialogue of a play. With the introduction of the second actor, the plot construction gained more freedom. Similarly, the complexity and subtlety of drama have also increased. Unlike Sophocles and others, Aeschylus designs costumes, trains his choir and may even perform in some of his own plays.

Main characters and myths

The focus of the play is the contest between Zeus' supreme power and Prometheus' tenacious determination.

Prometheus' roles are few and far between:

Titan Prometheus _

Hephaistos

ocean

io

Hermes

maybe

Violence (silence)

Of course there is a chorus.

It tells the plight of the Greek god Prometheus, the son of themis. The focus of the play is the contest between Zeus' supreme power and Prometheus' tenacious determination. Prometheus has a fatal flaw, for which he will be tortured: he loves human beings, and in order to save them from Zeus' anger, he stole the fire and incurred the revenge of the Olympians. So Zeus, in a rage, ordered Prometheus to be locked on a distant cliff, and every night an eagle would come here to have a good meal. Throughout the play, he told the choir about his predicament and defended why he brought fire to mankind. He claimed that through his gift of prophecy, he saw the future that led to Zeus' downfall. At the end of the play, Hermes, the messenger of the gods, visited Prometheus, and Hermes asked him about the future he foresaw and the fate of Zeus.

The plot of a play

The play begins with a desolate cliff in the Caucasus mountains. The Almighty Lord, a follower of Zeus, said to hephaestus, the Vulcan, "Now, hephaestus, your job is to carry out your father's orders and nail this villain to the rugged rock with indestructible fine gold chains. Chain "(green, 173). But hephaestus didn't want to, saying he couldn't bear to do it. He apologized to Prometheus and warned him that he would not hear or see anyone and that he would be burned by the rays of the sun. He added that nothing can change things, because "... Zeus's heart is hard to be softened by prayer, and the severity of every ruler is new" (174).

Mette laughed at Prometheus and said that it was a mistake for the gods to call him "thoughtful". He asked him what kind of help his mortal could provide to save him now. However, Prometheus firmly defended what he had done for mankind, and said that he would bear all that fate had given him. He was alone, talking loudly about his gift of fire to mankind:

I found a secret fire spring full of fennel stems. When it was revealed, it became a teacher of every craft and a huge resource. ( 178)

This is a crime for which he should be punished. He told the choir that he lamented and wondered why he had not been thrown into hell. He was tied to the rock wall and now he is a plaything of the wind. His enemies will laugh at his pain. However, he shouted that Zeus was barbaric and upheld justice according to his own standards. However, deep down, Prometheus knew that Zeus would be defeated and come to him one day.

The choir warned Prometheus that he spoke too casually. They then asked Prometheus to tell the story behind Zeus' punishment-why he was punished so cruelly and shamefully. Titan told how he followed his mother's advice and helped Zeus overthrow his compatriot Titan. However, after Zeus ascended the throne, he granted "several privileges" to every god, but gave nothing to mankind, and intended to erase them.

I saved people from the devastating destruction that might bring them to the house of Hades, so I was tortured on this rock. ( 183)

He sympathized with mortals, but he got nothing for himself. The leader of the choir responded that his own heart was very painful now. Riding on a sea monster, Poseidon looked at Prometheus's plight, told him how to share God's pain, and wondered how he could help. To some extent, Prometheus questioned whether he was staring at his misfortune or expressing sympathy. The ocean begged him to keep silent, because if he continued to speak loudly, Zeus would hear and bring more pain. He begged him "... to give up your anger and try to get rid of these troubles." (187) Haiyang said that he would ask Zeus to save Prometheus from his torture, but Prometheus responded and told him not to disturb him. He added that he didn't want others to be unhappy just because he was unhappy. He said that his heart was already very painful. Atlas of supporting the earth with shoulders. He told the ocean that he would bear the pain that Zeus gave him until "Zeus's heart was relieved from anger". He warned the ocean to be careful, and it was no use telling Zeus. Say that finish, the ocean left.

Prometheus turned to the choir and told about his kindness to mortals. He found that they had no brains, which made them smart and became "masters of their own brains". They have eyes, but they can't see any purpose; They have ears, but they can't hear. He told the choir that all the art of mankind came from him.

Io has horns like cows on its head. There she is. She asked Prometheus if she could hear the voice of a one-horned girl. Prometheus greeted her and told her that Zeus' desire for her made him turn her into a cow to avoid the anger of his wife Hera. Now she is troubled by the endless gadfly that Hera sent to punish her. She asked him why he was punished. He replied that he had finished writing the story. In short, he is the giver of human fire. He didn't talk about his predicament, but asked her. She replied:

Why don't I jump on this rugged cliff and get rid of all my troubles? (202)

Prometheus told her that when Zeus stepped down, he would get rid of his problems. Io asked how this would happen. Prometheus replied that Zeus would get married and he would regret it. His wife (not Hera) will give birth to a stronger son than his father. Moreover, this person will be a descendant of Io. Prometheus gave her instructions: she was going to Egypt, where Zeus would restore her sanity and touch it with a hand that "made you fearless". Among the descendants, the offspring of that child will overthrow his father Zeus. For chorus, Prometheus said:

However, this Zeus, despite his arrogance, is still modest. This is the competition he planned, a combination that will drive him away from power and throne ... (209)

After Io left, Prometheus announced loudly that only he could tell Zeus how to avoid his own fate. Prometheus won't be alone for long. Hermes, the messenger of the gods, joined him. Zeus knew the prophecy, but when Hermes asked, Prometheus refused to talk about it. Hermes told Prometheus that his attitude was his present state. Prometheus said that Zeus could not change his mind until "these cruel shackles were loosened". Hermes told Prometheus about Zeus' curse-every night an eagle came to eat his liver. Hermes added that the proud Prometheus must listen to the warning, not blame Zeus, but the possible consequences in his future. There was lightning in the background when Hermes left. Prometheus ended the play,

This is obviously a storm that Zeus attacked me to solve its sadness. Oh, mother, oh, the spinning sky brings light to everyone. You see how unfair it is for me to suffer. (2 16)

heritage

Few people doubt that Aeschylus, as an art form, had a far-reaching influence on Greek tragedy. He is the most influential and innovative tragic actor of his generation. Before him, drama was limited. There is only one actor and choir, and the interaction between the roles is impossible. Limited dialogue with actors who only speak to the choir. With the addition of Aeschylus' second actor, dialogue between performers is now possible. This major change has increased drama tension and plot development. After his death, his son, playwright Overend, repeated many of his plays. The Athenians respected his works so much that they passed a special decree allowing his plays to be performed in ceremonies and festivals every year. According to Grene, in the18th century and19th century, intellectuals rediscovered Aeschylus.