In the year 1789, Johann Goethe published a poem that revolted against the belief in God called “Prometheus.” According to Ancient Greek myth, Prometheus was a Titan, a pre-Olympian god. He defied the Olympian god Zeus by stealing the knowledge of fire from Zeus and giving it to humans. This knowledge of fire helped mankind to develop civilization and technology. Prometheus made mankind more equal to the gods.
For this, Zeus punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle eat his liver every day, allowing his liver to grow back overnight. The torture would start over again the next day and for eternity.
PROMETHEUS THE POEM
Goethe uses the myth of Prometheus’ revolt against Zeus as a symbolism for his own revolt against God. Multiple times, Goethe questioned the existence of God. For example,
“I should respect you? For what?
Have you ever soothed
The pain that burdened me?
Have you ever dried my terrified tears?
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These and other lines in the poem signify Goethe’s lack of belief in God. He’s asking, “where were you when I needed you the most?” “When I was suffering in life’s turbulence and gale storms, you were nowhere to be found?” “Why do you deserve my respect?”
A few lines later in the poem he states:
“Was I not forged into manhood
By almighty Time
And everlasting Destiny,
My masters and yours?”
These lines are clearly Goethe denying that some God made him. Goethe is saying that he was made and shaped into manhood by the passing of time and the events that unfolded.
Goethe concludes by saying that Time and Destiny are his masters and God’s. Thus, Goethe is saying that there are stronger masters than the idea of God.
MAKING MEN IN MY IMAGE
In what may be the most staggering lines in the poem, Goethe writes:
“Here I sit, making men
In my own image,
A race that shall be like me,
A race that shall suffer and weep
And know joy and delight too
And heed you no more
Than I do!”
Goethe is unequivocally stating that he is making men like him, who experience suffering and joy. Yet, the men that Goethe was creating would be non-believers and not obey “God” anymore just like him.
Goethe’s revolt against God was an early revolt against the idea of God and organized religion. Before Goethe, atheism and questioning the existence of “God” was almost unheard of. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was heavily influenced by Goethe’s life, writing, and philosophy. Nietzsche’s writings and philosophical approach significantly entailed atheism, the lack of a belief in God. Since the late 19th century, Nietzsche has been about the most wide-read and influential philosopher.
From this standpoint, it does seem like Goethe fulfilled his goal of creating a race of men, who like him no longer obey God.
This also seems very empowering, because Goethe is essentially saying that he would be like God and create men in his image. The Bible also states that God made man in his image as well. So, Goethe is not simply saying that he doesn’t obey God or doesn’t believe in God. Goethe is saying that he has become his own god.
