PROMETHEUS. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Editor's note

Alectryon is the rooster from Greek mythology, known for crowing at dawn. Prometheus starts by placing us at a specific moment in that myth — right at the boundary between night and day. This sense of transition permeates the entire poem: something is coming to a close, something else is starting, and neither feels secure.

Editor's note

As the stars vanish with the approaching light, Prometheus doesn't feel relief — he feels a sense of dread. The disappearing stars aren't a tranquil dawn; they're a sky filled with ominous signs. In ancient Greek belief, the heavens were like a text waiting to be interpreted, and Prometheus, whose name means 'forethought,' is someone capable of understanding it.

Editor's note

Kronos, the Titan who reigned before Zeus, is infamous for swallowing his own children. His blood-red hue in the sky serves as a classic bad omen — evoking images of violence and sacrifice. Prometheus is essentially signaling that the ancient, ruthless order of the cosmos is resurfacing.

Editor's note

Kronos castrated his own father, Ouranos, using a scythe — that's what 'parricidal' refers to here. Longfellow depicts the crescent moon resembling that very weapon, rolling off into the west. It's a striking visual that combines astronomical observation with mythological horror.

Editor's note

Prometheus directly confronts the gods, expressing both accusation and a sense of helplessness. He senses that something is on the horizon but feels powerless to prevent it. The rhetorical question he poses isn’t truly a question; it’s a deep lament. The stage direction that follows, positioning Hermes and Pandora at the threshold, responds to this with a stark and unsettling clarity.