Prometheus Bound Research Paper

By writing this paper, I will illustrate the parallels between the famous Rockefeller family—specifically J.D. Rockefeller Jr.—and the mythic figure Prometheus of Greek mythology. I will also divulge on the parallels between both of their philanthropic actions for humanity, (although the Rockefellers have made more contributions to humans in New York City). For the conclusion, I will propose that Prometheus has been—and most likely will be—the most engaging model of philanthropy, which the Rockefeller family and one of its members, J.D. Rockefeller Jr., have taken as inspiration for their philanthropy. When I went to Rockefeller Plaza, it was a sunny and slightly windy day, and this is probably one of the best types of days to visit the site and its statue of Prometheus. I say this because of the several national flags that line the walls around the ice rink and above the gold statue, which had many ripples and contours as they flew in the wind. As I walked down the incline towards the ice rink, I immediately took in the big statue of a golden Prometheus. However, it wasn’t at all what I …show more content…
For the Rockefellers who commissioned the development of the site and its public art, the play displays Prometheus’ love and preference to mankind as he selflessly gives fire, or the knowledge of the gods (and therefore civilization) to humanity. Nelson Rockefeller sought out the famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera to paint a mural, Man at the Crossroads, in the past RCS building lobby. However, Rivera was publically socialist and had painted an image of the communist leader Vladimir Lenin into the fresco. When he refused to remove the image, the current Rockefeller had it covered, destroyed and replaced by a more democratically themed painting by Josep Maria Stert, called the American Progress, which portrayed a scene of men building a modern America in allegorical