Pride, prophecy and power : the Prometheus myth in the work of Byron and Shelley

Abstract

I have always been fascinated by Byron and Shelley's friendship. The fact that their views and personalities were so different did not hinder them from influencing and admiring each other's work Since we cannot possibly know what their private conversations were like, we must rely on their letters and particularly their work for an idea of how they affected each other. Throughout this dissertation, I have tried to examine Byron and Shelley's poems as dialogues between the two poets on a subject that meant a great deal to both of them - the Prometheus myth. In this way, I was also able to focus on another aspect of Romantic poetry that particularly interests me - the poets' fascination with Greek mythology, and its application in their work The dissertation begins with a short introduction on the Prometheus myth, especially its importance during the Romantic Period in general. The next chapters focus on Byron and Shelley's use of the myth in their own work, particularly in three areas - i.e. the development of the Byronic and Shelleyan heroes, poetry and politics. In each case, I try to show that both poets responded to each other's ideas, and very often articulated their different concepts through their personal interpretation and experience of the Prometheus myth.