Trues greatness in the service of its sout: "Mýthos" and "Bìos" in Carl Spitteler's Prometheus-Compositions

  • Jeannine Hauser
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_AMAL.2012.v4.40587
Keywords: Carl Spitteler, Prometheus, epic, greatness, soul, autobiography, issues of becoming and being an artist, Switzerland, fin de siècle.

Abstract

Both Prometheus compositions written in 1881 and 1924 by Carl Spitteler, in a high epic style, transfer the ancient Prometheus topic into a fantastic world where religious conception mingles with fairy tale elements. In both works, the characters of Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus point out the gap between the exceptional man and his followers, between true and false greatness. Thus, this greatness becomes manifest in its loyalty to another figure – the soul. Both works provide references to contemporary issues as well as to the author’s biography. In his epic creations, not only does Spitteler recreate the historical context of the 1900s, but also deals with his becoming a poet and comments on the complexities of being an artist.

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Published
2012-11-15
How to Cite
Hauser J. (2012). Trues greatness in the service of its sout: "Mýthos" and "Bìos" in Carl Spitteler’s Prometheus-Compositions. Amaltea. Revista de mitocrítica, 4, 21-48. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_AMAL.2012.v4.40587
Issue
Vol. 4 (2012): Prometheus the Rebel
Section
Articles | Thematic Issue

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