Great Books Ep 60. Aeschylus - Prometheus Bound. Unsavory Tasks, Unyielding Goals: Managers' Duty to Get Things Done
There are hundreds and thousands of unsavory jobs in the world that people have to do but may not like to. Managers sometimes have to step in to urge people to do the company's objectives.
Fasten them round his arms with all thy strength! Strike with thy hammer! Nail him to the rocks!
~ ‘Prometheus Bound’ by Aeschylus (G. M. Cookson translation. p40. line 55)
Brief Summary
The play starts with Kratos and Bia carrying Prometheus to a remote mountain with Hephaestus following them with tools like hammer, chains, etc. With Kratos’ constant urging, Hephaestus fastens Prometheus to the rock. After they leave, Prometheus says that he has met this fate because he stole and gave humans fire and taught them every art to make them mighty. One by one, many characters visit Prometheus to lament and they try to persuade him to ask for forgiveness. The chorus (daughters of Oceanus) come first, followed by Oceanus, then Io and then Hermes. The dialogue with Io is the longest, and the dialogue with Hermes shows Prometheus in his most arrogant state. When Io recounts her backstory, it was a reiteration of the story in ‘The Suppliant Maidens’. Prometheus mentions that one of her progeny will be responsible for Zeus’ downfall but doesn’t divulge further. The play ends with Zeus meting out the punishment that Hermes talked about. There is an earthquake and Prometheus sinks into the abyss.
My Thoughts
I haven’t read Prometheus Bound, but it feels so familiar. The earlier plays like The Suppliant Maidens and The Seven Against Thebes were stories that I hadn’t heard before, but when I saw this title on the Contents page towards the beginning of the book, I was eager to reach this point. It seems like this story has been told many times in different formats or as a substory of a story. It also seems like references to Prometheus as a code word for someone who goes beyond the norms and is defiant beyond all odds, exists in multiple places in modern life. Ridley Scott’s movie Prometheus comes to mind immediately, but I’m sure I’ve seen the references of Prometheus in many other places before - Ship names, team names, project names, etc.
Like the previous plays, I thought I would read it in two stages, the first 700 lines this week and the rest next week. I thought I would stop after Io’s dialogues, but it was already close to 900 lines by then. So I just finished it. A lot of thoughts crossed my mind as I read the play. The major underlying theme of the play is the lack of remorse from Prometheus and the total defiance of someone more powerful than him. Multiple characters try to put reason into him to ask him to weigh the huge cost of defiance and to give in. They care for him and do not want him to suffer. I was reminded of Job’s friends talking to him to persuade him to denounce God. I also think that there is some parallel between the stories of Prometheus and Lucifer. I also thought of the wars that are raging now between Ukraine and Russia and Hamas and Israel from the perspective of the cost of defiance. I don’t know if there was a specific point in time in the past few months when Hamas could have given up the hostages. If there was, it seems to have passed, and the loss of lives is too much to bear. I want to hold here and not comment too much about a topic that even the most eminent people on earth are not able to find a resolution to.
So, instead of big contentious topics, I’ll focus this post on something that managers encounter routinely in their professional lives. How do you make individuals who are not fully committed to the company’s goals do what the company wants them to do? This thought came to mind when I read the exchange between Kratos and Hephaestus at the beginning of the play. Hephaestus is reluctant, being empathetic to Prometheus, believing that the punishment is too harsh, and cursing his skill and talents that he has been given the task. But whatever Hephaestus says, Kratos constantly urges him to complete the task and also do a good job of it, often reminding him of Zeus’ wrath. Hephaestus tells Kratos that his heart is hard, but Kratos does not care and reminds Hephaestus that no one is free from duty other than the ruler, and they should seem like laggards in Zeus’ eyes.
In the modern world, a middle manager's role is somewhat like Kratos’. It does require experience and a force of character to put the company’s goals above individual preferences. Successful managers are more often able to rally people to do the company’s bidding. They are able to make people see the goal from the company’s perspective and the necessity to get the project completed. But many times, individuals don’t see it. They have their own perspective, and what is asked of them could be orthogonal to their beliefs. Say someone who has to look at explicit videos on a social media site to flag them for removal. There are hundreds and thousands of unsavory jobs in the digital and physical world that people have to do. In all those circumstances, the manager in the situation needs to ensure that the job gets done. It is sometimes a thankless job; one could, more often than not, get cast into a villainous position because of this. But when things don’t get done, eventually, there will be chaos, and the company could get ruined.
In the pre-modern world, managers had to use force, and in the modern world, managers use encouragement and persuasion to get things done. But the underlying fact is, at the end of the day, things have to get done. At least in the modern world, there is some choice regarding who wants to do a job. Managers can choose who they want in their team, and the team members can choose which team they want to be. When that is the case, persuading someone to do their job is not needed. But such a situation is idealistic and not present throughout the world. As long as there is inequality, poverty and war, there will always be people fleeing from their home country to elsewhere and taking up jobs that they don’t like.
ChatGPT’s Response
The exchange between Kratos and Hephaestus at the beginning of "Prometheus Bound" indeed offers a compelling lens through which to view modern managerial challenges, particularly in the context of executing tasks that may evoke ethical concerns or reluctance from team members. In the play, Kratos represents the uncompromising force of authority, demanding adherence to Zeus's will, while Hephaestus embodies the empathetic, skilled worker who is conflicted about the morality of his orders.
This dynamic mirrors contemporary workplace scenarios where managers often need to navigate the delicate balance between achieving organizational objectives and addressing the concerns and morale of their team members. The key parallels and insights include:
Authority vs. Empathy: Just as Kratos enforces Zeus's will with little regard for Prometheus's suffering, managers sometimes must enforce company policies or directives that may not be well-received by all employees. The challenge lies in doing so while maintaining empathy and understanding for the team's perspectives and concerns, a balance Hephaestus struggles with.
The Burden of Leadership: Hephaestus's reluctance and ultimate compliance underscore the burdens that come with leadership roles—having to carry out decisions that affect others deeply, even when those decisions conflict with personal ethics or preferences. This reflects the modern managerial dilemma of balancing personal values with professional responsibilities.
Motivation and Compliance: Kratos uses the threat of Zeus's wrath as motivation for Hephaestus to fulfill his duty, akin to how modern managers might use performance metrics, deadlines, and the potential for disciplinary action to ensure tasks are completed. This raises questions about the effectiveness of fear-based motivation versus more positive methods, such as aligning tasks with employees' personal goals or using recognition and rewards.
Conflict Resolution: The interaction also highlights the importance of conflict resolution skills in management. Effective leaders, unlike Kratos, seek to understand and mitigate the concerns of their team members, finding solutions that align organizational goals with individual well-being.
Ethical Decision-Making: Hephaestus's internal conflict represents the ethical dilemmas that employees and managers face when tasked with actions that may contradict their personal morals or social ethics. Navigating these situations requires a nuanced approach, considering not only the legality and policy compliance but also the broader ethical implications.
Influence Without Authority: The dialogue suggests that influence can be exerted without direct authority—Kratos influences Hephaestus not through his own power, but by invoking Zeus's. Similarly, in the workplace, managers often need to inspire action and change through indirect means, leveraging the hierarchy of the organization and the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of team members.
In summary, the exchange between Kratos and Hephaestus in "Prometheus Bound" offers a rich metaphor for examining leadership, ethics, and motivation in the workplace. It invites reflection on how modern managers can effectively guide their teams toward organizational objectives while navigating ethical complexities and maintaining a supportive, empathetic work environment.
Gemini’s Response
You've raised a fascinating set of thoughts and reflections in response to Prometheus Bound. Let's explore them:
The Familiarity of the Prometheus Myth
It's very true that the Prometheus myth has permeated culture over the centuries. The reasons for this are likely multifaceted:
The Core Theme of Defiance: The idea of an individual standing up to seemingly insurmountable power is incredibly potent. This is a universal human theme explored in countless stories.
Ambiguous Morality: Prometheus' act was both a gift to humanity and a defiance of divine authority. His punishment sparks questions about justice, making him a complex and enduring figure.
Aesthetics of a Fallen Hero: Iconic images of Prometheus chained to the rock and enduring torment have been visually striking subjects of art throughout history.
The connection to Ridley Scott's Prometheus is particularly interesting, illustrating this continued relevance in even science fiction contexts.
Parallels with Other Stories
You're spot on about those parallels with Job and Lucifer! These myths and biblical stories explore the complexities of faith, suffering, and challenges to established authority. They ask profound questions about the nature of power, suffering, and how to maintain one's convictions in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Cost of Defiance
Your reflection on the cost of defiance is a very timely one. Sadly, the consequences of defiance can be severe, as seen in conflicts like the ones you mention. While the Prometheus myth might inspire resistance to perceived injustice, it also forces us to consider the very real toll that can come with such a stance. Leaders and individuals constantly face this difficult balance.
Managerial Perspective in Prometheus Bound
This is a superb analysis! You've deftly identified a core challenge of management within the play itself. Here's why this dynamic is so interesting:
Kratos as Authority Figure: Kratos represents unflinching authority. He prioritizes adherence to the chain of command and the execution of orders over compassion or individual consideration.
Hephaestus as the Reluctant Executor: Hephaestus embodies the struggle between duty and empathy. He demonstrates some understanding of the consequences of his actions, yet he still does what is demanded of him.
Relevance to Modern Management: This highlights the age-old conflict within management: ensuring tasks are completed, even if those tasks may be difficult or go against a worker's own sensibilities. It raises questions of ethics, autonomy, and how a manager should balance the needs of an organization against the needs of individuals.
Final Thoughts
It's remarkable the richness you discovered in this play. Your insights illuminate how even ancient Greek works can offer timeless reflections on themes such as power, choice, defiance, and the complex role of authority.
Other Thoughts
line 323
Keep a quiet mind And use not over-vehemence of speech Knowest thou not, being exceeding wise, A wanton, idle tongue brings chastisement?
Haughty speech can worsen one’s situation and get more punishment than needed.
line 685
Do not, from pity, seek to soothe me with untrue words ; for I consider false words to be the foulest sickness.
It is not kindness to soothe someone with lies.
line 747
What gain have I then in life? Why did I not hurl myself straightaway from this rugged rock, so that I was dashed to earth and freed from all my sufferings? It is better to die once and for all than linger out all my days in misery.
Is it better to commit suicide than endure suffering?
line 890
True marriage is the union that mates Equal with equal; not where wealth emasculates, Or mighty lineage is magnified,
It is better not to marry someone who is too wealthy than oneself or someone who is too proud of their lineage. Emasculation through the show of wealth and superior lineage will be a constant misery throughout life.