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| Pandora
in Hesiod’s “Works and Days”
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Contents
1. Introduction
2. The myth about Pandora
3. The symbolism of Pandora’s name
4. The analysis of Pandora’s actions and traits of character
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Introduction
Hesiod’s “Works and Days” is one of the
most ancient literary work that conveys traditions, myths,
moral and ethical norms and beliefs of ancient Greeks. At
this respect the myth about Pandora is probably one of the
most significant myths that was depicted in details by the
author of “Works and Days” on the basis of oral
tradition of ancient Greek mythology. It is very important
to analyse Pandora and the myth at large, as it is depicted
by Hesiod, since often it is compared to Genesis and different
creation myths in other cultures. At the same time it is also
noteworthy because it provides a lot of information about
the role of women in ancient Greek society and how they were
traditionally perceived. Also it is noteworthy to trace some
personal traits of character that are critically depicted
by Hesiod and that the image of Pandora organically incorporated.
The myth about Pandora
First of all, it is necessarily to briefly discuss the myth
about Pandora in order to better understand the role of her
actions, her motives and her personality at large, as well
as her role as a representative of women for the future of
the whole mankind as Hesiod, being a representative of ancient
Greek culture, perceived or interpreted it.
Initially, as soon as Pandora was created, she was sent to
Epimetheus by Zeus as a punishment for Prometheus disobedience
when he brought fire to people and in such a way rebelled
against Zeus. In fact, it was a kind of revenge of Zeus to
Prometheus and all people since Pandora’s creation was
purposeful and she should be a punishment, notably, in his
speech the main God of ancient Greeks underlines: “you
are glad that you have outwitted me and stolen fire –
a great plague to you yourself and to men that shall be. But
I will give men as the price for fire an evil thing in which
they may all be glad of heart while they embrace their own
destruction” (Hesiod 1983, 55). Obviously it was Pandora
that should bring all evils to men and it was she who was
given as a gift to Epimetheus and he accepted her, regardless
the warning of Prometheus not to take any gifts from Zeus.
Moreover, Epimetheus has got not only Pandora as a gift but
also her dowry, a notorious Pandora’s box, which he
was absolutely forbidden to open and Hermes, who brought Pandora,
actually warned him about it. And Epimetheus followed the
recommendation of Hermes and he also forbidden Pandora to
open the box.
However, once, when Epimetheus was absent Pandora could not
kept from opening the box and that was a fatal error a human
being could make. As soon as she has opened the lid of the
box she released all evils and misfortunes of mankind, including
the most terrible things like different ills, pain, anguish,
deceases, torment, pestilence and many other terrible things
and only hope remained in the box. Since that time people
could not live in a kind of paradise without worry as they
used to but they had to face all the evils and problems that
Pandora released.
The symbolism of Pandora’s name
Obviously, an ordinary woman could hardly make something similar
to what Pandora did. In fact she played a crucial role in
the development of the whole mankind, changing the life of
all people dramatically. As a result it is possible to speak
about Pandora as an extraordinary woman and her difference
from others may be seen in her name, which is very symbolic
and is traditionally interpreted as ‘all-gifted’
(West 1985).
Actually, she had really incorporated all possible gifts while
she was created. She had got some gift from different gods.
As Hesiod states that they contributed in different ways “Athena
to teach her needlework and the weaving of the varied web…
and golden Aphrodite to shed grace upon her head and cruel
longing cares that vary the limbs. And he [Zeus] charged Hermes
the guide, the Slayer of Argus, to put in her a shameless
mind and deceitful nature” (Hesiod 1983, 60,65).
Consequently, she was created to fulfil her main goal, or
to put it more precisely, the goal of a revengeful Zeus, to
punish mankind and her name should be perceived by people
as a warning but Epimetheus failed to realise the danger of
the divine gift and he was severely punished for his careless
attitude for this warning as well as all people in the world.
The analysis of Pandora’s actions and traits of character
On discussing the myth and the symbolism of Pandora’s
name, it is necessary to dwell upon her actions and personal
traits of character that permitted this woman to become a
tool of punishment in hands of Zeus regardless all the warnings
that Epimetheus received.
First of all it should be said that she acted boldly and she
was brave enough not to obey to the will of her husband and
opened the box. Actually this is the main deed that may be
treated as an act defining the way in which her character
and her personality would be perceived.
However, it is necessary to understand what made her to act
in such a way. At first glance, it is possible to presuppose
that it was a simple curiosity that was considered to be typical
for women, especially in the ancient Greek society of the
8th century BC when Hesiod created his “Works and Days”.
Nonetheless, on deeper reflection it seems to be insufficient
explanation because Pandora was really a lever woman who possessed
a bunch of gifts, which far not all women could possess. Moreover,
she was practically an ideal woman who possessed typical woman
skills such as weaving and needlework, she had got skills
of heartbreak from Aphrodite, and she could provoke love and
“all the aching sorrow of love” (Hesiod 1983,
65).
Obviously, curiosity should not be the dominating motive of
actions for such a woman. Consequently, it would be logical
to presuppose that Pandora had some others motives and reasons
to act in such a way. At this respect, it is possible to presuppose
that it was her greed that really motivated this woman to
open the box. Probably, it may sound a bit strange but, on
deeper reflection, it seems to be quite persuading idea.
For instance, it seems to be natural that a woman that possesses
a number of gifts and has nothing but these gifts tend to
acquire something else. It means that Pandora clearly realised
her position as a gift to Epimetheus that made her practically
equal to a thing because she was not actually asked whether
she wanted to be presented or not. Furthermore, it should
be said that she had noting but her dowry. Naturally, she
wanted to possess it and obviously that the main feeling that
filled her heart at that moment was, in all probability, greed
because her husband, Epimetheus, provided for her everything
she needed and the only thing she had to do was to lead the
life like all other women in ancient Greece did. But Pandora
was not satisfied with such situation and her position and
she wanted something more, she wanted to possess what she
probably considered to be of her own, her dowry. Moreover,
she had “thievish morals” and “the soul
of a bitch” (Hesiod 1983, 70).
Naturally, being influenced by her greed, Pandora opened the
box where she probably wanted to find some treasures but,
in stark contrast, she found nothing but different evils and
misfortunes. It is noteworthy that Hesiod did not describe
in details what was in the box. Nonetheless, he clearly stated
that the only thing that remained in the box was hope. By
the way, it may be another evidence of the fact that it was
greed that forced Pandora to open the box because she did
not let everything that was in the box go but apparently she
did not know what remained in the box good or evil. This is
why she probably believed that there remained something useful
and good that remained in the box because she decided to keep
it for herself. Symbolically, what she had got was hope and
this was the only thing that Pandora and all mankind still
possessed.
Conclusion
Thus, it is possible to conclude that Hesiod depicts Pandora
as a kind of evil gift that mankind received from Zeus in
punishment for the stolen fire. Obviously Pandora is a very
contradictive character. On the one hand, she has got a number
of gifts that make her practically an ideal woman in the context
of ancient Greek traditions and socio-cultural norms. On the
other hand, she had a number of negative qualities, among
which greed probably the most significant one. And, basically,
it is her greed along with other negative qualities, such
as thievish morals, that made her to open the box and change
the life of all people.
Bibliography:
1. Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days. Trans. Apostolos N. Athanassakis.
Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983.
2. Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001.
3. West, Martin Litchfield. The Hesiodic Catalogue of Women:
its nature, structure, and origins, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1985.
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