How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
CHORUS. I see, Prometheus; and fear brings rushing into my eyes a mist full of tears on seeing you left here to wither, bound to this rock by these degrading bonds of adamant. (144-151)
The Chorus might not be strong on the advice, but the sure do feel sorry for Prometheus. On the one hand, the Chorus expresses sympathy for Prometheus's physical suffering. On the other hand, they express sympathy for his cause, sharing his views of Zeus as an utter tyrant. (But not enough sympathy to join his cause.)
Quote #2
CHORUS. What god is so hard-hearted As to take delight in this? Who does not share the distress of your sufferings—except for Zeus? (160-167)
Here, the Chorus says that the entire world is on his side—oh, except for the most important guy: Zeus. But we're still wondering when anyone is actually going to do anything useful for the poor guy—like maybe bring him a glass of water and a snack?
Quote #3
PROMETHEUS. I took special pity on mortals, but was not held to merit it myself; instead I have been disciplined in this merciless way, a sight to bring disgrace on Zeus. (228-241)
When Zeus wanted to destroy humans, he, Prometheus, felt compassion toward them and protected them. Then, in Prometheus's view, Zeus compounded his earlier lack of compassion by dishing out this totally unfair punishment against Prometheus. If Prometheus thinks this brings "disgrace on Zeus," does that mean he thinks Zeus doesn't deserve compassion from others?
Quote #4
CHORUS. One would have to be made of stone and have a soul of iron, Prometheus, not to share the distress of your affliction. I would not have wished to see it, and now that I have seen it, I am pained to the heart. (242-245)
Again, the Chorus says that everyone on earth should feel compassion for Prometheus's position. But what good is all this compassion to Prometheus? Could the Chorus's repeated statements of this belief simply reflect their sense of powerlessness? (Everyone knows what happens to uppity nymphs. They get turned into trees.)
Quote #5
OCEANUS. I share the pain of your misfortunes, I assure you; our kinship, I feel, compels me to do so, and quite apart from that, there is no one to whom I would pay greater respect than to you. (284-297)
Uh-huh. Excuse us if we're not convinced by all this compassion. Notice that Oceanus feels "compelled" to do it. We're thinking that he doesn't feel much compassion at all—he just likes to stick his nose where it doesn't belong.
Quote #6
CHORUS. I groan, Prometheus, for your terrible fate: I let fall a flow of tear-drops from my tender eyes, and moisten my cheek with their watery stream […]. And every land is now crying out in grief, lamenting the privileges, magnificent and time-honoured, of yourself and your brethren: all the mortals who dwell in the inhabited abodes of holy Asia suffer together with your great and grievous sufferings […]. (398-401, 407-414)
In general, the Chorus sticks by Prometheus—right until they split at the end, when Zeus starts throwing lightning bolts around. But it's worth noting that they're just a teeny bit self-interested. If they're sad about the "privileges" that the gods are losing, doesn't that include themselves, as well? If so, does this make their sympathy with Prometheus seem more or less sincere?
Quote #7
CHORUS. I learned this from seeing your wretched fortune, Prometheus, and this song that has flown to my lips is very different from the wedding-song I sang in honour of bath and bed on the occasion of your marriage, when you wooed and won my sister Hesione to be your wife and bedfellow. (553-560)
All right. The Chorus is sympathetic for Prometheus and sad for him. They and their father Oceanus are bound to him by family ties. Got it already? It's just a big hotbed of incest up there—no wonder the gods are so crazy.
Quote #8
IO. Then why are you waiting, instead of telling it all to me?
PROMETHEUS. Not from any ill-will, but I am reluctant to disturb your mind.
Here, we see that Prometheus is holding tight to his info because he's afraid that it's going to hurt Io. We guess this is supposed to be compassionate? Except we really wish he'd just tell her already.
Quote #9
PROMETHEUS. It is for you, Io, to do this group a favour, especially since they are sisters of your father. It is something worth while to weep and lament thoroughly over one's misfortunes, in circumstances where one can expect to wring tears from the listeners. (630-639)
Okay, hilarious: Prometheus is saying that Io is doing everyone a favor by making them cry. Fun fact: this crying-at-others'-misfortunes is the whole point of Greek tragedy. It's catharsis!
Quote #10
PROMETHEUS. Ah me!
HERMES. That is not an expression that Zeus understands.
PROMETHEUS. Well, time, as it grows old, teaches everything! (980-982)
Hermes says that Zeus just doesn't understand phrases like "ah me!"—in other words, simple compassion. But check out the snappy comeback: someday, he's going to. Is this a coded reference to his belief that somebody will come along and kick Zeus off his throne—in other words, that Zeus will learn compassion once he is down in the depths of despair himself? If so, do you think Prometheus will have any compassion for Zeus when the king of the gods is in that position?