Zeus' Actions in Prometheus Bound

Zeus is the almighty. He is the "God of the sky," hurler of "thunder and lightning" for justice and morality in the universe. Aeschylus' play, Prometheus Bound is a direct attack against Zeus' actions, his tyranny, and his punishment for Prometheus, a fellow God. Aeschylus constructs this argument in his play through the use of secondary characters, their opinions, and their interactions with Prometheus as he is punished ultimately, for his great love of mankind. Love and hate, good and evil, justice and reason all take turns driving this story of the oppressed rising up and fighting for what they believe.

Prometheus Bound opens with a dialogue between Might, servant of Zeus and Hephaestus, who Zeus has pained with inflicting his punishment for Prometheus. This dialogue sets the premise for the rest of the story. Zeus is the overseer of all events and a force to be reckoned with as consequence for actions that will never escape his watchful eye. Zeus is indirectly present and embodied in Might, a character in which "the command of Zeus has its perfect fulfillment." p. 65. He conflicts with Hephaestus, whom feels unable to "bind violently a God who is his kin." The quick succession of dialogue between the two characters is symbolic of a dispute between good (the bonds of brotherhood) and evil (torture and pain), giving Zeus, from the get-go , a condemnation for his actions. The idea of Zeus betraying his brother is further propagated when the Chorus exclaims that "there is no disease I spit on more than treachery." Prometheus "allied with Zeus" and helped him win the Titanomachy, without the help of Prometheus, Zeus would not have been able to exploit his power the way that he did towards Prometheus in the end. Zeus, uses his power to gain followers, additional power, then uses his might against those who support him. Treason, a capital crime has no consequence for Zeus and the extremely worse consequence for Prometheus. No matter how deserving Prometheus