How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
PROMETHEUS. I did the wrong thing intentionally, intentionally, I won't deny it: by helping mortals, I brought trouble on myself. But I certainly never thought I would have a punishment anything like this, left to wither on these elevated rocks, my lot cast on this deserted, neighbourless crag. (263-276)
Here, Prometheus muddies the waters even further. On the one hand, he says that he knew what the future would be. But he also says, "I certainly never thought I would have a punishment anything like this." Prometheus seems to be telling us that he (a) knew the future, (b) chose freely (but how could he do so if the future is already written?) and (c) didn't know the future. How do we put these two ideas together? Is seeing the future like looking into the distance—i.e., Prometheus may well have had an idea, in advance, of what was going to happen to him, but was fuzzy on the details? (And if so, maybe there's a telescope to clear things up.)
Quote #5
CHORUS. I am confident that you will yet be released from these bonds and be no less powerful than Zeus.
PROMETHEUS. The decisive decree of destiny is not ordained to bring that to pass in that way yet awhile: only after being racked by countless pains and torments am I at last to escape these bonds. Craft is far weaker than Necessity. (508-514)
By Necessity Prometheus means simply, "What has to happen" (which is pretty much the same idea as fate). It's weird that he doesn't seem too bothered about the whole no-free-will thing. Maybe there's something comforting in the idea that what's going to happen is going to happen. At least you can't make the wrong decision about what to major in.
Quote #6
CHORUS. Well, who is the steersman of Necessity?
PROMETHEUS. The triple Fates and the unforgetting Furies.
CHORUS. You mean that Zeus is less strong than these?
PROMETHEUS. Certainly he cannot escape destiny. (515-520)
The Chorus thinks that Zeus has got to be more powerful than Necessity. But Prometheus disagrees: Fate is the one in charge. So, is knowledge even power in a world where you can't use your knowledge to make meaningful choices? This looks like yet another Greek-tragedy-related, fate-based mind-bender. Thanks for the memories.