Prometheus is a poem written by English Romantic poet Lord Byron and was published in 1816. The poem is based upon the story of the Greek heroic figure, Prometheus, and his sacrifice in stealing fire from the Gods to give to humans.
The poem is a play on the myth of Prometheus, a Greek hero who stole fire from the Gods, and as a result, was punished by Zeus for all eternity. In the poem, Prometheus is a symbol of resistance and hope to the people, whilst the traditionally all-power and respected God, Zeus is painted as the villain. Zeus is threatened by the power that Prometheus holds, and as such, attempts to get rid of him by making him suffer bound to a rock for all time. This is representative of the power that individuals have to make a difference and to protest oppression.
The poem plays on major themes of resistance to tyranny and the power of individuals against this. This is increasingly relevant to situations present in the modern day, and the hope that rebellion and resistance can inspire. Indeed, Byron himself was born a year after the The French Revolution and experienced great social upheaval that affected him his entire lifetime. As a Romantic poet, Byron embodied the traits of being true to oneself in the face of adversity, hence his poetic works on this theme as well as his real life contribution in gaining independence for Greece during their civil war.
