Please read Prometheus Bound (pp. 6-32 in Levi Lind's Ten Greek Plays in Contemporary Translation or online here or here).Suppose you were writing a commercial promoting a production of Prometheus Bound as a "must see" kind of show. Choose some "sound bites" from the play itself to use in your commercial. Be prepared to work with other students in class to create a full version of your commercial.
So far, Prometheus Bound is a pretty cool read. I can see a little of why Rex Warner, writer of the introduction says that Prometheus is not the "perfect hero." Still, Prometheus' willingness to suffer rather than submit is admirable. There is the initial interactions between Prometheus and Io that was kind of funny to me. Here are some "sound bites" that stuck out:
ReplyDeleteMaybe a commercial for Bug Repellent... ;-)
On page 20 (Io enters)
Io: "Where am I? Who lives here?.....Ah, ah, some biting fly stings my poor body..."
Prometheus: "I hear the maid who is driven by the stinging fly..."
Io: Oh, to this pain, and wear me away, poor thing, all crazy now in fear of the stinging fly? Burn me with fire, hide me in earth, and give me for food to sea-monsters."
-Jonathon Fargher
I have to agree with Jonathan, Prometheus bound is an interesting play.
ReplyDeletein traditional Greek Mythology, it was Prometheus who created mankind and was the god of "Before Thinking" or "Foresight" and he then stole fire from Olympus to inspire mankind. As punishment for this and other offenses, he was tied to a mountaintop deep in the Caucasus mountains, left completely defenseless and an Olympian eagle would eat his liver every day, since the organ grew back because he was an olympian god.
so far, the play seems to tell this tale very well and even hints at his release. as for a commercial, well...
Commercial for Prometheus Bound: coming to an amphitheater near you:
Narrator: From the creator of Philoctetes, and Achillies, comes an epic new saga
Hephaestus: Prometheus, i feel sorry for you, but we must do as we are told, even though i question this cruel sentence for your crimes.
Kratos: "I know you don't agree with Zeus, but openly questioning him or the slightest disobedience will land you a worse fate in Tatarus with the Titans themselves, Hephaestus."
Hephaestus: "I understand he brought this on himself, but surely there is a better way to handle this."
next scene:
Prometheus in deep thought: "I know who will free me and when, but i must play my part for now. I must not submit to Zeus, not yet."
Prometheus bound, Play not yet rated, Only in Amphitheaters.
Prometheus Bound is an intriguing read to say the least. If I'm being honest, I can't say I was overly thrilled with it, though. I'm not so much a fan of this style of play. Plus, in my opinion the Greeks talk too much; they could have communicated the same thing in simpler language. Of course, that could just be a result of translation, too. I don't hate the play, but I don't love it either.
ReplyDeleteCommercial:
Prometheus Bound, the new Broadway hit!
Join our protagonist Prometheus in his fight to keep a cunning secret. Will he cave to those who try to strip that secret from him in his immobilized state? Come find out!
Chorus: "But what is Zeus's fate except to rule anyways?"
Prometheus: "You must not learn this yet, so do not seek to know."
Chorus: "This is some holy secret which you fold away."
Prometheus: "Think of some other thing to tell. Time is not ripe for revealing this Instead it must be hidden as far as possible, for, if I keep this secret, I shall escape my shameful bondage and my pain."
Join us at our Broadway theater. It's a secret you just have to know!
Critics say (me), "Prometheus Bound is the first Greek play you can read once and fully understand the first time"
ReplyDeletePage 24, line 749, Io says "It is better to die once than to suffer wretchedly throughout one's everyday" ---to me it sounded like a James Bond tagline, like die another day.
Same page, line 758, Io still speaking to Prometheus, "Is it possible that Zeus will one day fall from power?" This is a good line that would draw in an audience if they have any background knowledge of the almighty Zeus, people would be intrigued on how a the god of gods has fallen.
Prometheus Bound has a great plot and story. Finally someone to stand up against Zeus. I specifically like Prometheus's speech about the "Breezes on Swift-Bird Wings."
ReplyDeleteMy commercial would include parts of this speech where Prometheus is talking himself up to a crowd. The crowd backs him up, but then Zeus actually arrives and they back down to Prometheus. I would include Prometheus saying "Bear, as I can, I must, knowing the might
Of strong Necessity is unconquerable." I would include motivating background music during the speech to really get the audience excited to go to the play. Granted they didn't have music like that back then, but it would add to the effect. When Zeus arrives it would make things more suspenseful just to have the commercial end right there.
I like the dialog between Hermes and Prometheus. Also I noticed that it referenced Atlas holding up the world - when in fact he holds up Olympus, and not the Earth. Either way it's funny to watch them go back and forth, Prometheus resolute in his fate and so confident in just bad-mouthing and making jokes at Hermes and Zeus' expense. I think to set off the drama between him and Zeus the best bites would be around page 29, where Prometheus states "Proud-mouthed indeed... such words as these for a lackey of gods to speak. You and your power are young... you think you dwell.. where grief will never come. And yet, have I not seen dictators twice hurled down from them?"
ReplyDeleteAlso I enjoy his saying "for your menial position I would not exchange my own ill fortune" while being chained down, as well as "are you not a child, and still more foolish than a child?"
One of the things I really appreciated about Prometheus Bound was how simple the story was. It practically takes place in only one location and is completely focused on the characters instead of a complicated story, which tends to happen in some Greek plays/stories.
ReplyDeleteSome of the quotes I'd choose to include in a commercial would be:
"Where am I? Who lives here? ... For what sin are you paying atonement?" (20)
"At the end of the long road, Prometheus, I come to you." (13)
"Is it of Gods or of mortals or both? (9)
Prometheus Bound was a good read and is easier to understand because is is very simple. The part I really like is when Prometheus and Hermes go back and fourth. Some quotes i would use from a commercial would be:
ReplyDeleteHERMES: SO THEN YOU LAUGH AT ME IF I WERE A CHILD. (30)
PROMETHEUS: YES, ARE ARE YOU NOT A CHILD AND STILL MORE FOOLISH THAN A CHILD,... (30)
I would use these lines from the play as a used car dealership commercial. I think these lines are going back and forth like a car sales man and a buyer would. Having Power be the grimy untrustworthy sales man and Hephaestus be the uncertain buyer. I do think the words don't match up to perfectly, but the vibes given off during the dialog matches up pretty well.
ReplyDeleteHEPHAESTUS: We are comrades—we share strong common bonds.*
POWER: That may be true, but can you disobey [40]
your father’s words? Do you not fear him more?
HEPHAESTUS: Ah yes! You always lack a sense of pity
and are so full of cruel self-confidence.
POWER: There is no point in wailing a lament
for this one here. You should stop wasting time 60
on things that bring no benefits to you.
HEPHAESTUS: How much I hate the special work I do!
By Tabitha Sonne
DeleteA healthy dose of spite and misery can go a long way in attempting to market to people, and I feel as though Prometheus Bound could make for a wonderful dark comedy on Broadway or off Broadway. The story of a God tried for his actions, knowing full well he won't be escaping from his predicament, but taking solace in the fact that his tyrant enemy will falter later on, and that, in a sense, everything will eventually turn out better.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite exchanges is between Hermes and Prometheus. It fits with a dark comedy tone as one of them is being tortured greatly, and yet the other seems to be the whinier of the pair.
HERMES
Dost thou blame me
For thy misfortunes?
PROMETHEUS
I hate all the Gods,
Because, having received good at my hands,
They have rewarded me with evil.
Proves thee stark mad!
HERMES
This proves thee stark mad!
PROMETHEUS
Mad as you please, if hating
Your enemies is madness
HERMES
Were all well
With thee, thou'dst be insufferable!