Zeus, let your sky be covered with dark clouds.
Cover it up;
Like a child cutting off the head of a thistle,
On oak trees and cliffs
Show your power and prestige.
But do not touch my land,
My cabin, you didn't build it,
And my stove,
For its blazing flame,
You are jealous of me.
I don't know, in the sun, God,
Who is more pitiful than you!
You all depend on it.
Sacrifice
The silence of prayer
Nourish your dignity
No children and beggars
A hopeful fool,
You will starve to death.
When I was a child,
I don't know where to go,
I once put my lost eyes
Turn to the sun and think it's up there.
One ear, listening to my complaints,
With a heart like mine,
Sympathize with the oppressor.
Who helped me?
Against Titan's arrogance?
Who saved me?
Free from death and slavery?
Didn't you do all this yourself,
Sacred and fiery heart?
You're not young or kind,
Fooled, once on the sleepers above.
Thanks for saving his life?
Want me to respect you? Why?
Have you ever lightened it?
The pain of those who bear the burden?
Have you ever stopped?
Sad tears?
Exercise me into a man.
It is not an all-powerful era.
And eternal destiny?
They are my masters,
And your master.
You may be paranoid.
I'll hate life,
Escape into the desert,
Because this is a beautiful dream.
Didn't it all come true?
I sit here and shape people,
According to my appearance,
Create a race like me:
Suffering, crying,
To enjoy, to entertain,
But not respecting you-
Just like me!
(translated by Yang)
This poem was written in the autumn of 1774 and was not published until 1785 because it was considered blasphemous. Goethe experienced the "wild violence" literary movement from 1770 to 1980 in his youth and became a representative of the movement. The poet ignored all the existing order and expressed his strong dissatisfaction and resistance to the feudal society at that time. This poem is one of the representative works of this period.
In Greek mythology, Prometheus (meaning "prophet") created man out of clay, and stole the fire belonging to the gods from heaven and brought it to the world. At the same time, he also taught mankind a variety of knowledge and skills such as cooking, lighting, pottery making, smelting and architecture, which enabled mankind to enter a bright and civilized century. Prometheus has always been a symbol of rebels and creators. The legend of Prometheus is an important creative theme in European classical literature. In this poem, Goethe is actually expressing his own creation, satirizing and despising the existing divine order based on Prometheus' own situation.
The poet laughed at the thunderbolt in Zeus' palm as a stick used by children to break thistle heads. The poet separates the world of Zeus ("your sky") from the world of Prometheus ("my earth"). In Zeus' world, the gods fell and lived pitifully. Prometheus believed in the power of God when he was a child (of course, only the poet Goethe had a so-called childhood), but now he understands. All creation depends on ourselves, on our own "sacred and fiery heart". Those gods are not only incompetent and indifferent to human beings, but also dominated by time and fate, not "omnipotent" or "eternal". At the end of the poem, Prometheus expresses his firm rebellious spirit and persistent creative will, which is also the expression of the poet's rebellious spirit and fighting spirit in creating a new order.
The poet broke the shackles of ancient poetry forms and wrote freely, wildly and forcefully with blank verse, which perfectly demonstrated the poet's unyielding will and powerful strength. It was created by Le Chatter, Schubert and others. (Wu Ye)