As was mentioned during last week's class discussion, the Greek gods' social structure mirrors human society in that there is a distinct hierarchy and often they are driven primarily by emotions and desires. We see this in Prometheus Bound when we hear of Io's sufferings due to Zeus' desire for her and Hera's jealous response to this.
However the gods are also immortal and therefore able to learn from their past mistakes because the punishment they receive for their actions can't kill them. This makes them impetuous and fearless but also able to "evolve" quickly in the stories they inhabit. In this particular Greek tragedy we are faced with a god (Prometheus) that knew he would be punished for his actions and goes ahead with them because he believes that he is doing right. This shows perseverance in the face of an oppressing power (Zeus).
The more interesting purpose that I believe Prometheus Bound serves is that of helping to rationalize the evolution of human society. The gods are an external force that imposes their whims on mortals. In this particular myth, Prometheus imposes fire, innovation, and ultimately progress on them. In later Western depictions, it is MAN (and woman!) who is born with the ability to innovate. How did that change come about??
