Prometheus Unbound: An Analysis From The Perspective Of Mythological-Archetypal Theory

Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the greatest poets with significant influence in the 19th century. Prometheus Unbound is the most well known lyrical drama in his works. In Greek mythology, for violation of the law, Prometheus was gaoled on a god-forsaken rock, sticking to his belief without any resentment, which embodies perfection of humanity. Prometheus is unique in that he disobeyed the orders of Zeus and suffered all the sufferings for the benefit of human beings, but he never regretted. Different writers from different nations reproduced his unique spirit at different times, giving Prometheus a new life and a new image. Through Prometheus, they expressed their own views of the society they lived in. The story of Prometheus, thanks to the contribution of these writers, has been spreading everywhere, which has greatly benefited generations of readers. Of the huge yearly mass of scholarly research, however, not much has touched upon the embedded archetypes of the major characters in the fiction, thus leaving much room for further explorations. An application of myth and archetypal criticism to the analysis of Prometheus Unbound will hopefully take us back to the beginning of humankind's oldest rituals and beliefs and deep into our own individual hearts. It is hoped that the present study may offer a better understanding of Shelly, his drama and his position as a social critic.