What does it mean that only “hope” remains after the evils that come out of Pandora’s box?
The myth of Pandora’s Box carries profound symbolism regarding the role of hope in humanity’s evil-filled world.
- Mythological Origin: Pandora’s Box (Actually, the Container)
In the myth told in Hesiod’s Works and Days:
Zeus, enraged by Prometheus’s theft of fire and giving it to humans, creates Pandora in revenge.
Pandora is given a container (later mistakenly called a “box”) and is warned not to open it. However, her curiosity overcomes her and she opens it.
All evil (disease, war, greed, lies, etc.) spreads throughout the world. When the container closes, only “hope” (Elpis) remains inside.
- The Meaning of Hope: Two Contrasting Interpretations
Hope in myth is a controversial symbol in philosophy. Some interpret it as a blessing, others as irony:
A. Hope is a Gift: The Endurance of Humanity
Stoic Interpretation: Despite a world of evil, hope is the inner strength that enables humans to endure suffering.
Psychological Perspective: As in Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, hope is the basis for finding meaning.
The Structural Function of Myth: Evil is inevitable, but hope is humanity’s survival strategy.
B. Hope is a Torture: Eternal Waiting
Existential Interpretation (Nietzsche/Camus): Hope is an illusion that drives humans into passivity. By keeping hope closed, Pandora has actually prevented humans from facing reality.
Tragic Irony: Hope is the most insidious of evils because it consoles humans with empty expectations.
Hesiod’s Original Text: In Greek, Elpis also means “expectation.” Perhaps what remains closed is a pessimistic expectation.
- Feminist and Political Readings
Pandora’s Punishment: The myth presents a patriarchal narrative by portraying women as the source of wonder and disaster. Hope, in turn, reflects the “curative” role assigned to women.
Hope as a Tool of Control: Zeus’s renunciation of hope to humans may have been a strategy to keep them dependent on the authority of the gods.
- The Metaphor of Hope in the Modern World
Ecology: Pandora’s box overlaps with the evils humanity has unleashed on nature (climate crisis) and hope (green technologies).
Pandemic: In COVID-19, evils (disease, death) spread, but hope (vaccine research) sustained humanity.
Hope, an Ambiguous Legacy
The hope in Pandora’s box can be either a blessing or a curse. The power of myth comes from preserving this duality:
Optimistic View: Hope is a source of resistance in a world of evil.
Pessimistic View: Hope is a shackle that prevents us from seeing the truth.
Perhaps myth tells us:
“Evil is inevitable, but humanity chooses to exist with hope—or despair.”
As Camus said:
“One must live without hope, for hope is a postponement to the future. But true rebellion is living in the present.”
Emily Dickinson’s lines, however, offer an alternative answer:
“Hope is a feathered thing / That lands on the soul / And sings its song—wordless / And never stops.”