Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM

Morong, Rizal

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Short Story Analysis in EL 111-Mythology and Folklore

Name: Rina Mae R. Santiago Year/Section: II-English

Date: April 27, 2020 Score:

I. Title of the Story

PROMETHEUS AND IO

The expression ‘Title reflects the story’ is perhaps accurate in every angles. For every title, there is a need
to fit with the story line or just include keywords that describe the most important thing, person or idea. In
most cases the title is not explicitly relevant to the plot but more likely on the characters or theme. In this
story Prometheus and Io, it was evident in fact that this is far and widely about the unfortunate life of
Prometheus and Io. This symbolizes that both of them were unfairly treated by the Gods, Zeus and Hera.
Their fates show us that Zeus’ hatred and love can both have terrible consequences. However, in the end
it was shown how they endure their adversity and overcome it triumphantly.

II. Setting

The rocky peaks of Caucasus is the setting of the story that witness the unfortunate and tragic life of
Prometheus. This peak serves as a mark for his punishment from the unlawful god, Zeus. In this place, he
also met Io who was cursed by the jealous wife of Zeus, Hera because of having a love affair with his
husband. This peak indeed symbolizes struggle and hardship for both of them and yet, it becomes
reversible and the key for character development especially for Io, who’s already loosing hope due to her
wretched condition. The solemnity of this place and wise words from Prometheus helps her cleanse the
bitter taste of life, denotes and culminates hope and resiliency.

III. Characterization

Prometheus plays a notable role in this story; the protagonist. He is a very kind and generous titan which
made him truly noble. Aside from that, he’s also known for his intelligence and the one blameable for
stealing fire from Zeus and give it to the mortals. Despite of his power, Prometheus never regrets
anything and was willing to accept the consequences of his action. Prometheus showing patience and
kindness is sincerely noteworthy, his significance in the story taught us inferiority is all right but defeat is
not and never will be accepted for there is hope persevering as destiny has its own.

Io is the priestess of Hera and known for her innocence. Having a beautiful façade, she was seduced by
Zeus that subsequently turned her into a cow/heifer to hide from her wife, Hera. Io also plays as the
protagonist of the story and taught us to strengthen our faith and endure suffering because it will soon be
rewarded and make some sense in the end.

Zeus is the King of the Gods and Goddesses and plays as the antagonist partly on Prometheus. He
unlawfully punished and let Prometheus suffer in the Causcasus Mountain because of disobeying his
order. He was angry at Prometheus because of three things: being tricked, steal fire for the mortals and
refuse to tell Zeus which of his children will dethrone him. But Zeus becomes remarkable in this story
because he made Prometheus semantically stronger and honor his fate.

Hera is the Queen of Olympus and also plays as the antagonist partly on Io. She was well informed unto
his husband’s filthy business and tormented Io because of her jealousy. This brought her to punish Io by
sending her away and arranging Argus, a giant with hundred eyes to watch over Io. Her cruelty and
jealousy become visible in this story because that serves as Io’s barrier in overcoming her suffering.

IV. Conflict

The hardships Prometheus and Io dwell was the result of unfairly treatment by the Olympian Gods and
Goddess. For Prometheus, he was thrown in the Causcasus Mountains and chain to a rock with
unbreakable adamanite chains. He was also tormented day and night by a giant eagle tearing his liver in
eternity. This is his consequences after disobeying all Zeus’ orders and becoming a rebel. As for Io, she
was sent away to guard by the monster, Argus but later on killed by Hermes under the command of Zeus.
Io may be free from the hundred eyes monster but not on the hands of Hera, she then sent her flies to
drive her insane as she wandered across Prometheus’ path. This misery serves as her punishment after
Hera confirmed her relationship with Zeus.

V. Climax

The climax of the story is when Prometheus reveals a prophecy to Io. Where it contains Io, wandering
across the Ionian Sea and then came to the great river Nile. And there, Zeus will transform her into a
maiden again and shall give birth to a son who’ll then become a hero that will break the chains and set
Prometheus free. After telling Io what the future will be, she then managed to fix herself and be back on
track that will lead her to the Nile River. Prometheus words keep her hopes afloat and with this, Io takes
the path to fulfil the prophecy.

VI. Summary of the Story

Prometheus is a very intelligent and kind Titan who’s given the task of creating man together with brother
Epimetheus. He then assigned his brother to give the creatures various qualities. Some examples of this
are strength and wings. Unfortunately, his brother Epimetheus given all away the good qualities that there
is none left for man. So Prometheus decided to make man stand upright as the Gods did and gave them
fire. But then, Zeus decreed that man must present a portion of each animals sacrificed to the Gods, that’s
when Prometheus decided to trick Zeus. He next created two piles, one with good meat hidden with the
stomach of an animal and the other is the bones wrapped in juicy fat. As soon Zeus choose the latter one,
he tremendously rummage for Prometheus and anger overrun him. So Zeus took fire away the mortals but
then again, Prometheus lit a torch from the sun and brought it back again to humans. To sum it all up, this
Titan adds fuel to the fire that infuriated Zeus more. As a consequence, Prometheus was chained to a rock
for all eternity to have his liver picked out by an eagle.

Then, one day while Prometheus was serving his punishment, a strangely looking white cow with big sad
eyes will pass his way. Prometheus watched her intently and when he recognized that it was Io and he
approached the heifer. Prometheus knew her story and he spoke with her. When Io found out that the
person chained to a rock with unbreakable adamanite chain was Prometheus, they started to talk to each
other. He told Io his story and so does Io told his misery that she was once a beautiful princess who
turned into a cow by Zeus. After Zeus fall inlove with her, Hera grew jealousy. And when Hera’s
suspicion about their affair was confirmed, Zeus tried to hide himself and Io by wrapping a cloud around
the Earth. But Hera knew why this odd occurrence was happening. As Hera called off the cloud, Zeus
quickly transformed Io into a cow. He claimed that the cow had been born from the Earth. Hera did not
believe this and she made Zeus give the cow to her as a present. He reluctantly handed Io to Hera, who
had planned to keep her away from Zeus. Hera handed Io to the hundred eyes monster named Argus and
ordered to guard her for the rest of his life. Zeus on the other hand, unable to withstand Io’s misery and
ordered Hermes to slain the giant. Io thought she was free once again until Hera sent her huge gadfly to
pest her and keep her insane.

After Io’s confrontation, Prometheus forgets his own suffering and focused his attention to the white cow,
he tried to comfort her by revealing a prophecy. He then told her to “go to the Nile river to meet Zeus and
you would be turned back into a maiden again. Zeus also promised you that once you attain your human
form, you will become a mother, from whom shall spring the hero who will break my chains and set me
free” and eventually he did; Heracles.

VII. Tone/Atmosphere

The atmosphere of the story is full of pain and sorrow. It is the tone/mood of the story because both
Prometheus and Io experienced physical pain and aside from enduring all this, the feeling of sorrow
through their misery and suffering on hope arouse. The bitterness of life offers them serves as a huge
hindrance to overpower distress.

VIII. Literary Theory

The literary theory that best analyse the story is the Marxist Criticism by Karl Marx.

He perceived human history to have consisted of a series of struggles between classes; the oppressed and
the oppressing. Where in this mythology story, oppression or the malicious or unjust treatment of power
had been addressed and both are presented by Prometheus and Io. Their burden lives are the result of the
overpowering abusive God and Goddess of Olympians.

Marx thought that materialism was the ultimate driving force in history.
Which was quite true since we can perceived that these deities can possessed supernatural powers and
abilities that mortals would never be able to reach this status and instead, they would have to do good
works on Earth or worshipped them to have the honor of the Gods or earn appraisal.

In Marxist Criticism, it examines the nature of power structures within a novel.

A Marxist Critic asks questions like:

 Who has power? Who lacks power?

 What is the relationship between power and wealth?
 Who is exploited by whom and why?
 How does power remain constant or shift throughout a work of literature?
 What makes certain characters powerful and powerless?

These questions are generally in lined to the story Prometheus and Io because this story sums up
the adversity or misfortune they endure as the result of the mistreatment Gods, Zeus and Hera.
Prometheus and Io as the oppressing (the “have-nots”) and the deities as the oppressed (“the
haves”) Having both wealth and power get others to worshipped them or do the necessary works.
This become constant for no mortals confined them that is why they seek mortals as incapable or
powerless that are scared of punishments and consequences.

IX. Theme of the Story

The theme of the story is “Resiliency in the face of adversity”

Without any doubt, Prometheus and Io showed resiliency in continuing the unfair and terrible
consequences Zeus and Hera hand them. Luckily, their humble and quiet sufferance has been rewarded in
the end as both of them achieve their own happiness and freedom.

X. Morals of the Story

By telling the prophecy to Io, Prometheus strengthens her hope and eventually accepts her destiny. His
words made her tough during hard times.

This story taught us that no matter how rough our path is, we should always keep our heads up. Show
resiliency for it might be stormy now but it can’t rain forever. In the end, all we have to do is keep
walking through the storm because our own rainbow is waiting on the other side of the road.

XI. Referencess