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.
