Satisfactory Injustice
“The romanticism of Prometheus. His complacency in misfortune. Bitter satisfaction at injustice. Misunderstood, unappreciated, this makes him proud.” — Albert Camus “Reading Notes,” in Cahiers Albert Camus II: Youthful Writings, first written 1933
The start of this reading note from Camus indicated that he had just reread Prometheus by Aeschylus. I naturally thought I should do the same, and see if there was anything to this. The stories of the Titans and those who defied the gods are some of my favorite topics, even before I became entranced with Sisyphus from Camus. Or maybe that’s why it resonated with me?
A short deviation here. I’m not sure what edition he was reading, I presently have the earlier Loeb version from H.W. Smith (there’s a newer one, this one has some seriously dated phrases, like “guerdon”) and in French I’m not sure what he would have had, but if it was dual language it might have been this one http://dico.ea.free.fr/juxta/PROMENCH.PDF. I’m not as familiar with Greek works in French, but this is something I may follow up on later. Anyway, there’s so much great content in Prometheus Bound that I will definitely re-visit.
A couple of my favorite books are collections of works about the myths put out by Reclam, a German publishing house that makes affordable copies of classics (similar to Penguin Classics in English) but are thorough enough to include dual language editions, and a lot of other great publications. They are occasionally available through Amazon in the USA, here’s the link to Prometheus (and .de just in case). Essentially they’re collections of art and literature through the ages on one mythological subject. They’re “reception” through the ages. This version includes, Kafka, Hobbes, amongst a few dozen others, including a lengthier essay from Camus taken from the German edition of his literary essays.
With this quote in mind, and thinking of Prometheus as the proud unappreciated Titan, it does change the tone of the story somewhat. With all the focus on his giving fire to humankind, one forgets that Zeus wanted to just destroy humanity and replace it with something else. And that fire enabled humans to learn all the crafts of Hephaestus and find that ever important tool for survival, hope.
From this I think he is unappreciated and misunderstood. He not only gave humans fire, but hope and a means to defy the gods. He instilled in them the means of their survival at great cost to himself, and no one sees the value in his act. What is this if not absurd heroism?
I think the takeaways here are that you have to do the “right” thing. Even that means defiance and great cost, but don’t think you’ll be appreciated for it, don’t do it just because it’s right. Do it, and take satisfaction in the meaninglessness of the act, and take even more bitter satisfaction, maybe even scorn those you helped, in knowing this as you live out the consequences, chained in adamantium to the rocks.
-DA
