Literature

In his poems Theogony and Works and Days, Hesiod presents Prometheus as a trickster figure  an irritating figure to Zeus in short, a benefactor of man. Hesiod draws upon Prometheus gift of fire to man to mark the separation of mankind from the world of the gods. Prometheus, bounded by his own nature, protects man from both the gods and the animals of the wild (Thury and Devinney, 513). He gives man intelligence  of the ability to create civilization and culture  to protect them from the arrogance of the gods. Prometheus asked nothing from man except respect and admiration. But to the gods, he asked to leave man alone  not to encroach upon their lives and property. Hesiod continues
 he ceased from the wrath which he had before because Prometheus matched himself in wit with the almighty son of Cronos. For when the gods and mortal men had a dispute at Mecone, even then Prometheus was forward to cut up a great ox and set portions before them, trying to befool the mind of Zeus. Before the rest he set flesh and inner parts thick with fat upon the hide, covering them with an ox paunch but for Zeus he put the white bones dressed up with cunning art and covered with shining fat. (Theogony, II 507)

Prometheus attempts to save man from the arrogance of the gods caused him dearly. Zeus decreed that he be banished from Olympus  to renounce his status as a god and live with the wild creatures of the mountains. Zeus further decreed that Prometheus be bounded in chains, set on a winged eagle to eat his immortal liver. Despite Prometheus fortune, he attempted to trick Zeus

So he said, thinking trickery. But Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, saw and failed not to perceive the trick, and in his heart he thought mischief against mortal men which also was to be fulfilled. With both hands he took up the white fat and was angry at heart, and wrath came to his spirit when he saw the white ox-bones craftily tricked out and because of this the tribes of men upon earth burn white bones to the deathless gods upon fragrant altars. (Theogony, II 548 italics mine)

Zeus heart was set against men  his power and glory are directed to the mischief of men. Zeus, the all-powerful god lives for the misfortune of men. Prometheus knew this. Witnessing mans suffering from the beginning of time, Prometheus promised to make the lives of men free from the intervention of the gods  in short, free from their irrational judgment.

Prometheus the trickster is a benefactor of man and an irritation of the gods. However, this theme is not limited to the mythology of ancient Greece (Thury and Devinney, 471). In North American folklores, the trickster is depicted as a naughty animal, overjoyed with power and innovation. The trickster, however, always side with humans (as in the case of Prometheus) and cause troubles for the gods. Why The answer lies in the nature of the trickster. Having found no joy or adventure from living with the gods, the trickster associates himself with men  creatures which he sees as interesting. Thus, he uses his energy and resources to make man the supreme image of nature  the opposite of the gods.

In North American folklores, the Raven is depicted as an affectionate, naughty figure  a trickster  who brought daylight to a dark world. Long ago, there was a great struggle between Raven and a sea creature. The sea creature was monstrous in size and scope. It devoured men from all lands and destroyed their fishing areas. With his harpoon, Raven captured the creature. In another story, Raven tricked a tribal chief along the Nass River. Unknowingly, the chief kept the light in a small box. Raven conceived an elaborate plan of obtaining it. Raven transformed himself into a spruce needle and fell from the sky. He landed into a cup of water that the chiefs daughter was drinking. She was impregnated. After being born into a human form, Raven stole the box and returned to his original form.

Fleeing from the angry chief, he became hungry. Raven asked a group of fishermen if he could have some of their catch. When the fishermen refused, he released the daylight. From that day, the dark world was bright. Fishes swam in the clear waters of the North. The fishermen were overwhelmed with the quantity of fish they collect. They felt fortunate of having the trickster  a naughty figure of misfortune  at their side.

In some variations of the story, Raven had a dispute with one of the powerful gods of the north. Afraid of confronting the god, he fled further to the north  to the dark world. Having found men to be comforting creatures, he set to free them from this dark world. The trickster was never genuine in his actions. He often forgot his obligation to men. But his actions always led to the benefit of men. When the gods saw this, they were enraged. However, they knew that the tricksters heart was set to side with men.

Some scholars view the trickster as a mediator between men and the gods. But in the case of Prometheus and Raven, the trickster is an irritating figure to the gods and a general benefactor of men. The tricksters affiliation with men is natural  nature set him to be a brother of man, cloaked in trickery and naughtiness.